"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.
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
We're here for a long time
I'll be fifty, reading, learning
Still trying to beat this evil version
Of my people person
I scratched like all my DJs did
To breach the surface
But I'm trying to last
And have a laugh
When we meet in person
So take care
You've got one body
I feel godly
Hobby Lobby
Independent mom and poppy
Walking wobbly
Damnit Bobby
I worked in the movie theater mopping it
You don't know what you got
Until you squander it
Hey
Clap your hands
Welcome our contestant
He submitted hard confessions
To our market testing
And though his bars impressive
They've been narcoleptic
He's trying to fund a house of cards
That he architected
The world's a cannibal corpse
A different animal
Aiming for solutions while I rifle through the manual
You better help yourself cuz no one's going to
I will make it out what I've been going through
Spizz
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Uh
No first aid kit needed
Put on my mic I just bleed
I think I'm sick of this climate
It rained on all my dreams
But I saw a ghost
Through moth bite clothes
He haunts me when I sleep
Two fingers to the western sky
I'm waving them like, peace
Don't be placing me in no niche
Don't go toast to me in no bar
If I don't die young then so be it
I'm still a poet at heart
Do not go gentle into that good night
Dylan you came too far
And don't ever lose sight of who you are, are
I'm thankful for my English teacher
Taught me how to breathe
God, thanks for depression
Cuz it taught me to be deep
I learned from all the nights when I would
Try to get to sleep
On someone's hand-me-down family couch
You better believe
I went from broke and broke to broken
To whole and hopeful
To how's he from a sleepy town
With eyes both wide
So soulful
I know
The lonely road up will go
To no ovals
Go see his show, fo sho
I suppose
The most quotable, huh
That's just the shit that's inside me
Isn't it ironic
The more I set up
The more the myth will define me
If being lonely is a drug
I guess I live with sobriety
And I live with it kindly
Take care
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Shoutout to all my friends
Shoutout to everybody who helped me with this tape right here
Everybody who helped me obsess over the name
For like five years
And make the album art in my room
With a piece of paper and a pair of scissors
Shoutout to naebird on the beat
Shoutout to my dusty ass room
Yo
I'll see you guys next time
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
We're here for a long time
I'll be fifty, reading, learning
Still trying to beat this evil version
Of my people person
I scratched like all my DJs did
To breach the surface
But I'm trying to last
And have a laugh
When we meet in person
So take care
You've got one body
I feel godly
Hobby Lobby
Independent mom and poppy
Walking wobbly
Damnit Bobby
I worked in the movie theater mopping it
You don't know what you got
Until you squander it
Hey
Clap your hands
Welcome our contestant
He submitted hard confessions
To our market testing
And though his bars impressive
They've been narcoleptic
He's trying to fund a house of cards
That he architected
The world's a cannibal corpse
A different animal
Aiming for solutions while I rifle through the manual
You better help yourself cuz no one's going to
I will make it out what I've been going through
Spizz
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Uh
No first aid kit needed
Put on my mic I just bleed
I think I'm sick of this climate
It rained on all my dreams
But I saw a ghost
Through moth bite clothes
He haunts me when I sleep
Two fingers to the western sky
I'm waving them like, peace
Don't be placing me in no niche
Don't go toast to me in no bar
If I don't die young then so be it
I'm still a poet at heart
Do not go gentle into that good night
Dylan you came too far
And don't ever lose sight of who you are, are
I'm thankful for my English teacher
Taught me how to breathe
God, thanks for depression
Cuz it taught me to be deep
I learned from all the nights when I would
Try to get to sleep
On someone's hand-me-down family couch
You better believe
I went from broke and broke to broken
To whole and hopeful
To how's he from a sleepy town
With eyes both wide
So soulful
I know
The lonely road up will go
To no ovals
Go see his show, fo sho
I suppose
The most quotable, huh
That's just the shit that's inside me
Isn't it ironic
The more I set up
The more the myth will define me
If being lonely is a drug
I guess I live with sobriety
And I live with it kindly
Take care
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Take care of yourself
Don't ever relax
Stop turning away
Don't ever look back
And burn all those bridges everyone has
Until you finally learn the way to
Shoutout to all my friends
Shoutout to everybody who helped me with this tape right here
Everybody who helped me obsess over the name
For like five years
And make the album art in my room
With a piece of paper and a pair of scissors
Shoutout to naebird on the beat
Shoutout to my dusty ass room
Yo
I'll see you guys next time
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I was really shocked to discover that no one had posted a comment in reference to this song. This song holds the most meaning for me due to the fact that I feel that the guy I am involved with takes this stance on our relationship. This song influences my view and how I am now dealing with things. 'You’ve gotta wise up, for christ's sake take care of yourself. Cause a dirty boy don’t make clean breaks.' honestly.
That sucks your boyfriend has this stance on your relationship. The song is definitely honest though; he's admitting he's unsure. I really love this song; its probably my favorite from the record. I like the guitar during the "Sarah" parts especially.
so true. i love mike kinsella.
this conflicted mind*
I'm the Sarah that Mike wrote this song about.
yes, be jealous.
and....
yes, i am lying.