"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.
This is my excuse to testify been a beaten down boy
And I don't know why that's alright, that's alright
Well the truth was a lie and I don't know
How it got me to follow and it's true that the lie that was
Sold me will never let me go
What I needed you to
Say was hidden far away
This is why I've had to justify,
My head is shaken, yeah but that's alright
What I needed to believe was hidden far from me
That's alright 'cause I believe you
Take advantage of a malleable mind been a weakened sucker boy without
A spine that's alright, that's alright
Tell me that I've got to fight your fights, and now I'm a bleeding
Boy without a life but that's alright, that's alright
Don't feel bad because I won't cry
I'll do your will
And not ask why,
But that's alright because I believe you
And I don't know why that's alright, that's alright
Well the truth was a lie and I don't know
How it got me to follow and it's true that the lie that was
Sold me will never let me go
What I needed you to
Say was hidden far away
This is why I've had to justify,
My head is shaken, yeah but that's alright
What I needed to believe was hidden far from me
That's alright 'cause I believe you
Take advantage of a malleable mind been a weakened sucker boy without
A spine that's alright, that's alright
Tell me that I've got to fight your fights, and now I'm a bleeding
Boy without a life but that's alright, that's alright
Don't feel bad because I won't cry
I'll do your will
And not ask why,
But that's alright because I believe you
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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,
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I think its about how someones lied to you for a long time, and no matter how hard you try you cant forget the lie they told you. And when you confront them about it, you expect them to say one thing but they dont.