"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.
Today the grass is like another green,
Straight from heaven's garden,
Like you've never seen.
At first glance it's like this place is on fire,
But it's just time for this dew to expire.
Most of the days I'm down near the sea.
People say they're not seeing me,
I miss them as much as they miss me. I miss
Them just like they miss me.
Now yesterday I think he might have called to say
Hey, or just to get us all together on a Saturday,
To take some time come down your way.
But he's over on the North Side.
He can walk.
He doesn't need a ride.
I wouldn't pick him up anyway.
It's not not my town.
I don't know the way.
I see him out my window,
On a very different street where leaves fall
Up in the Spring time, and the sun sets in the East.
I'm always late when I'm visiting.
I can't remember where the station is.
What time will you be coming in?
I wish my town had an airport.
In 15 minutes we've be at my door.
We'd used the time for a walk and some wine,
But these days I'm trying not to think about time.
I see him out my window,
On a very different street where leaves fall up in the Spring time,
And the sun sets in the east.
We hang out in the garden, away from phone calls,
Strip malls-now I don't want to leave you behind.
It's just that grayed-out horizon.
Hey, don't you think it's time?
Straight from heaven's garden,
Like you've never seen.
At first glance it's like this place is on fire,
But it's just time for this dew to expire.
Most of the days I'm down near the sea.
People say they're not seeing me,
I miss them as much as they miss me. I miss
Them just like they miss me.
Now yesterday I think he might have called to say
Hey, or just to get us all together on a Saturday,
To take some time come down your way.
But he's over on the North Side.
He can walk.
He doesn't need a ride.
I wouldn't pick him up anyway.
It's not not my town.
I don't know the way.
I see him out my window,
On a very different street where leaves fall
Up in the Spring time, and the sun sets in the East.
I'm always late when I'm visiting.
I can't remember where the station is.
What time will you be coming in?
I wish my town had an airport.
In 15 minutes we've be at my door.
We'd used the time for a walk and some wine,
But these days I'm trying not to think about time.
I see him out my window,
On a very different street where leaves fall up in the Spring time,
And the sun sets in the east.
We hang out in the garden, away from phone calls,
Strip malls-now I don't want to leave you behind.
It's just that grayed-out horizon.
Hey, don't you think it's time?
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I feel like its about escaping from the conformities of society and being able to be yourself. no matter what though, awesome chill song