"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.
What do you do
When you know something's bad for you
And you still can't let go?
I was naive, your love was like candy
Artificially sweet, I was deceived by the wrapping
Got caught in your web, and I learned how to bleed
I was prey in your bed and devoured completely
Oh, and it hurts my soul, 'cause I can't let go
All these walls are caving in
I can't stop my sufferin'
I hate to show that I've lost control
'Cause I, I keep going right back to the one thing that I need
To walk away from, yeah
I need to get away from you
I need to walk away from you
Get away, walk away, walk away
I should have known that I was used for amusement (for amusement)
Couldn't see through the smoke, it was all an illusion
Now I've been licking my wounds (licking my wounds)
But the venom seeps deeper (deeper, deeper)
We both can seduce, but darling, you hold me prisoner (prisoner)
Oh-oh, I'm about to break, I can't stop this ache
I'm addicted to your allure and I'm fiendin' for a cure
Every step I take leads to one mistake
I keep going right back to the one thing that I need, oh
I can't mend, this torn state I'm in
Getting nothing in return
What did I do to deserve
The pain of this slow burn?
And everywhere I turn
I keep going right back to the one thing that I need
To walk away from, yeah
I need to get away from you
I need to walk away from you
Every time I try to grasp for air
I get smothered in despair, it's never over, over, oh
Oh
It seems I'll never wake from this nightmare
I let out a silent prayer, let it be over, over, ooh
Inside I'm screaming, begging, pleading no more, ah-ah
I don't know what to do
My heart has been bruised
So sad, but it's true
Each beat reminds me of you
Ooh, it hurts my soul 'cause I can't let go
All these walls are cavin' in
I can't stop my sufferin'
I hate to show that I've lost control, 'cause I
I keep going right back to the one thing that I need, oh
I'm about to break, I can't stop this ache
I'm addicted to your allure
And I'm fiendin' for a cure, no hey
Every step I take leads to one mistake
I keep going right back to the one thing that I need, oh
I can't mend this torn state I'm in
Getting nothing in return
What did I do to deserve
The pain of this slow burn?
And everywhere I turn
I keep going right back to the one thing that I need
To walk away from, yeah
Yeah, mm, yeah
I said I need to get away from you
Need to walk away from you (ooh)
I need to get away from you
Need to walk away from you (only thing I need to do)
I need to get away from you
Need to walk away from you (is walk away from you)
I need to get away from you
Need to walk away from you
I need to get away from you (yeah)
Need to walk away from you
I need to get away from you
Need to walk away from you
I need to get away from you (walk away)
Need to walk away from you
I need to get away from you (walk away)
Need to walk away from you
When you know something's bad for you
And you still can't let go?
I was naive, your love was like candy
Artificially sweet, I was deceived by the wrapping
Got caught in your web, and I learned how to bleed
I was prey in your bed and devoured completely
Oh, and it hurts my soul, 'cause I can't let go
All these walls are caving in
I can't stop my sufferin'
I hate to show that I've lost control
'Cause I, I keep going right back to the one thing that I need
To walk away from, yeah
I need to get away from you
I need to walk away from you
Get away, walk away, walk away
I should have known that I was used for amusement (for amusement)
Couldn't see through the smoke, it was all an illusion
Now I've been licking my wounds (licking my wounds)
But the venom seeps deeper (deeper, deeper)
We both can seduce, but darling, you hold me prisoner (prisoner)
Oh-oh, I'm about to break, I can't stop this ache
I'm addicted to your allure and I'm fiendin' for a cure
Every step I take leads to one mistake
I keep going right back to the one thing that I need, oh
I can't mend, this torn state I'm in
Getting nothing in return
What did I do to deserve
The pain of this slow burn?
And everywhere I turn
I keep going right back to the one thing that I need
To walk away from, yeah
I need to get away from you
I need to walk away from you
Every time I try to grasp for air
I get smothered in despair, it's never over, over, oh
Oh
It seems I'll never wake from this nightmare
I let out a silent prayer, let it be over, over, ooh
Inside I'm screaming, begging, pleading no more, ah-ah
I don't know what to do
My heart has been bruised
So sad, but it's true
Each beat reminds me of you
Ooh, it hurts my soul 'cause I can't let go
All these walls are cavin' in
I can't stop my sufferin'
I hate to show that I've lost control, 'cause I
I keep going right back to the one thing that I need, oh
I'm about to break, I can't stop this ache
I'm addicted to your allure
And I'm fiendin' for a cure, no hey
Every step I take leads to one mistake
I keep going right back to the one thing that I need, oh
I can't mend this torn state I'm in
Getting nothing in return
What did I do to deserve
The pain of this slow burn?
And everywhere I turn
I keep going right back to the one thing that I need
To walk away from, yeah
Yeah, mm, yeah
I said I need to get away from you
Need to walk away from you (ooh)
I need to get away from you
Need to walk away from you (only thing I need to do)
I need to get away from you
Need to walk away from you (is walk away from you)
I need to get away from you
Need to walk away from you
I need to get away from you (yeah)
Need to walk away from you
I need to get away from you
Need to walk away from you
I need to get away from you (walk away)
Need to walk away from you
I need to get away from you (walk away)
Need to walk away from you
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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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
This song is totally amazing! I've loved it for as long as I can remember. When I first read it I assumed it was about abuse, but once my friend went thru a situation exactly like the one in the song, I realized it's just about loving someone you know you shouldn't, or who makes you someone you don't like being: vulnerable. It's also about seeing the truth behind someone, or realizing who they really are when you've been blinded from reality. It's also the typical story of not being able to let go, though you know you should. It doesn't only have no be, getting back together with this person, but letting them continue to control your life long after you should have let go.