"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Hey your part of it
Yeah your part of it
Hey your part of it
Yeah your part of it
I walk the streets of a Carolina
Watching people pushing shopping carts
And there's a guy above me
And he's washing windows
Making ten bucks a pop
And he says to me
Hey your part of it
Yeah your part of it
Hey your part of it
Yeah your part of it
And I said sir, well have you heard
That this country is un-equal still?
History continues itself
Continues itself
History continues itself
And I did not create the rules
From all I've heard
And all I've seen
This place has broken
My American heart
From all I've heard
And all I've seen
This place has broken
My American heart
Hey your part of it
Yeah your part of it
Hey your part of it
Yeah your part of it
Yeah your part of it
Hey your part of it
Yeah your part of it
I walk the streets of a Carolina
Watching people pushing shopping carts
And there's a guy above me
And he's washing windows
Making ten bucks a pop
And he says to me
Hey your part of it
Yeah your part of it
Hey your part of it
Yeah your part of it
And I said sir, well have you heard
That this country is un-equal still?
History continues itself
Continues itself
History continues itself
And I did not create the rules
From all I've heard
And all I've seen
This place has broken
My American heart
From all I've heard
And all I've seen
This place has broken
My American heart
Hey your part of it
Yeah your part of it
Hey your part of it
Yeah your part of it
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Mountain Dew Mountain Dew Mountain Dew Mountain Dew Mountain Dew .... Wait What was I saying?
Awesome song, but the lyrics are a little wrong. Because I don't know how to edit or add lyrics- I guess I'll just do it here.
Hey! You're part of it Yeah! You're part of it Hey! You're part of it Yeah! You're part of it
And I walk the streets of a Carolina Watching people pushing shopping carts And there's a guy above me Washing windows- Making 10 bucks a pop And he says to me...
Hey! You're part of it Yeah! You're part of it Hey! You're part of it Yeah! You're part of it
And I say "Sir, well have you heard?... That this country is unequal still History, continues itself Continues itself Histroy, continues itself...
And I did not create the rules."
From all I've heard And all I've seen This place has broken My american heart
From all I've heard And all I've seen This place has broken My american heart
Hey! You're part of it Yeah! You're part of it Hey! You're part of it Yeah! You're part of it
fuck canada. i can't believe i just got into piebald and their reunion shows literally start in 3 days
like god damn, what are the chances and how is that for a kick to the nuts!?
obviously i say fuck canada because the shows are in america and i'm in vancouver. maybe i should say fuck america?
Yay. throws confetti for Piebald
I love how the song relates a mini-story...I love the whole meaning behind it. Basically I think it's blatantly putting down capitalist society in America...at least, that's what I THINK...=)
yeah, this is definately against capitalism, I set in my cubicle in a large american corporation, and think about how I'm "part of it" and this song bascially makes me say, "fuck it", cause everyone is part of it some way or another.
Great song, great band, even better live
This song is definitely about the "system" and how it's unfair, anarchy, etc, whatever. It's so great though! The guy washing windows... "HEY! You're part of it." It's so meaningful - and truthful.
I don't know how to edit other peoples lyrics, ,but Emokid you forgot the yeah your part of it, which is just as important as the first your part of it. Also it is "And theres a guy ABOVE ME and he is washing windows" I am pretty sure that the above me pertains to the fact that a guy washing windows is not a slave in the same way most americans are to the capitolistic socity our goverment so eagerly adapted. So morally a window washer is above the singer of the song, either travis or a fictional person travis has created through a lyrical masterpeice.