"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.
Whoa oh, I've been banging my head against the wall
Whoa oh, for so long it seems I knocked it down
Yeah, it got knocked down
Whoa oh, and the heating bill went through the roof
Whoa oh, and the wall I knocked down was the proof
That my landlord needed to kick me out
I got evicted now I'm living on the street
My spirits lifted, oh wait, that wasn't me
Too many turns have turned out to be wrong
This time I learned that, I knew it all along
When car crashes occur then I'll be what you were
When I see what I should, when I see that it's good
That it's good
To experience the bittersweet
To taste defeat then brush my teeth
Experience the bittersweet
To taste defeat then brush my teeth
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
I struggle with forward motion
We all struggle with forward motion
'Cause forward motion is harder than it sounds
Well every time I gain some ground
I gotta turn myself around again
It's harder than it sounds
Well every time I gain some ground
I gotta turn myself around again
Whoa oh, I've been banging my head against the wall
Whoa oh, for so long it seems I got knocked out
Yeah, I got knocked out cold
Whoa oh, and the medical bills went through the roof
Whoa oh, and the scar on my head is the proof
That I'll still remember this when I get old
I got evicted now I'm living on the street
My spirits lifted, oh wait, that wasn't me
Too many turns have turned out to be wrong
This time I learned that, I knew it all along
When I grasp the concept
Then I'll sleep where you slept
When I know I need help
When I allow myself, allow myself
To experience the bittersweet
To taste defeat then brush your teeth
Experience the bittersweet
To taste defeat then brush your teeth
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
I struggle with forward motion
We all struggle with forward motion
'Cause forward motion is harder than it sounds
Well every time I gain some ground
I gotta turn myself around again
It's harder than it sounds
Well every time I gain some ground
I gotta turn myself around again
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
We all struggle with forward motion
('Cause forward motion is harder than it sounds)
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
(And every time you gain some ground, you've gotta turn yourself around again)
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
We all struggle with forward motion (is harder than it sounds)
Yeah, every time you gain some ground you gotta turn yourself around again
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
We all struggle with forward motion
Whoa oh, for so long it seems I knocked it down
Yeah, it got knocked down
Whoa oh, and the heating bill went through the roof
Whoa oh, and the wall I knocked down was the proof
That my landlord needed to kick me out
I got evicted now I'm living on the street
My spirits lifted, oh wait, that wasn't me
Too many turns have turned out to be wrong
This time I learned that, I knew it all along
When car crashes occur then I'll be what you were
When I see what I should, when I see that it's good
That it's good
To experience the bittersweet
To taste defeat then brush my teeth
Experience the bittersweet
To taste defeat then brush my teeth
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
I struggle with forward motion
We all struggle with forward motion
'Cause forward motion is harder than it sounds
Well every time I gain some ground
I gotta turn myself around again
It's harder than it sounds
Well every time I gain some ground
I gotta turn myself around again
Whoa oh, I've been banging my head against the wall
Whoa oh, for so long it seems I got knocked out
Yeah, I got knocked out cold
Whoa oh, and the medical bills went through the roof
Whoa oh, and the scar on my head is the proof
That I'll still remember this when I get old
I got evicted now I'm living on the street
My spirits lifted, oh wait, that wasn't me
Too many turns have turned out to be wrong
This time I learned that, I knew it all along
When I grasp the concept
Then I'll sleep where you slept
When I know I need help
When I allow myself, allow myself
To experience the bittersweet
To taste defeat then brush your teeth
Experience the bittersweet
To taste defeat then brush your teeth
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
I struggle with forward motion
We all struggle with forward motion
'Cause forward motion is harder than it sounds
Well every time I gain some ground
I gotta turn myself around again
It's harder than it sounds
Well every time I gain some ground
I gotta turn myself around again
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
We all struggle with forward motion
('Cause forward motion is harder than it sounds)
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
(And every time you gain some ground, you've gotta turn yourself around again)
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
We all struggle with forward motion (is harder than it sounds)
Yeah, every time you gain some ground you gotta turn yourself around again
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
'Cause I struggle with forward motion
We all struggle with forward motion
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
fun song...yeah it is easy to relate too. i'm about to graduate from high school and college is definitely the "forward motion" i'm struggling with as far as that. and yes, it applies spiritually as well in furthering a relationship with God. cuz you can't just sit there and expect to get closer to God, you've gotta seek Him in everything