"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.
I've come to my senses
That I've become senseless
I could give you lessons on how to ruin your friendships
Every last conviction, I smoked them all away
I drank my frustrations down the drain, out of the way
So I sit and wait and wonder
Does anyone else feel like me?
Someone so tired of their routines and disappearing self-esteems
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophes
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
I could be an expert on co-dependency
I could write the best book on underage tragedy
I've been spending my time at the local liquor store
I've been sleeping nightly on my best friends kitchen floor
So I sit and wait and wonder
Does anyone else feel like me?
I'm so overdosed on apathy and put down on sympathy
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophes
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
Let the meaning slip away
Lost my faith in another day
Self deprecation seems okay
I never thought I'd make it anyway
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophes
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
That I'm my own worst enemy
I'm my own worst enemy
And I'm my own worst enemy
'Cause I'm my own worst enemy
And I'm my own worst enemy
That I've become senseless
I could give you lessons on how to ruin your friendships
Every last conviction, I smoked them all away
I drank my frustrations down the drain, out of the way
So I sit and wait and wonder
Does anyone else feel like me?
Someone so tired of their routines and disappearing self-esteems
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophes
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
I could be an expert on co-dependency
I could write the best book on underage tragedy
I've been spending my time at the local liquor store
I've been sleeping nightly on my best friends kitchen floor
So I sit and wait and wonder
Does anyone else feel like me?
I'm so overdosed on apathy and put down on sympathy
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophes
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
Let the meaning slip away
Lost my faith in another day
Self deprecation seems okay
I never thought I'd make it anyway
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophes
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
That I'm my own worst enemy
I'm my own worst enemy
And I'm my own worst enemy
'Cause I'm my own worst enemy
And I'm my own worst enemy
Lyrics submitted by almostmanda
The Science of Selling Yourself Short Lyrics as written by Louis James Schaub Christopher Demakes
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is a really good song. The meaning isn't really hidden, just simply about depression and feeling like you're doing everything wrong. I think we've all felt just like this before, so its really to relate to.
Im listening to this now. And its so good. I mean like its how i feel most of the time. How alot of people feel i bet. The upbeat tune represents me smiling through it when inside im saying things like the lyrics say. Upbeat but negative at the same time.
Its perfect.
It's one of those songs you go to when you're completely fed up with yourself.
"i've come to my senses that i've become senseless" he's realized he's lost touch with feeling and what's important. he's basically wasted by the time he's realized "he's his own worst enemy". wasted because "i smoked them all away", "i drank my frusterations", "spending my time at the local liquor store", "sleeping on my best friend's kitchen floor" he feels he's an expert, a king, of being a fuck up. he wonders if anyone feels this way because it's himself who's damaging him.
:] get it??
I got arrested listening to this song.
Why hasn't anyone commented on this song yet?! This is definitely one of the best Less Than Jake songs, in my opinion. I love Rogers voice.
You can listen to this song and relate to everything he's saying, and probably even remember a time that all of it happened to you, but since the song is so upbeat, it makes everything feel a little bit better. Get yourself a joint, listen to this song, and watch the problems melt away.
"i could give you lessons hwoto ruin your friendships" took the words straight outta my mouh
LTJ write alot about being in a teenage state of mind, and this is a great example. both the lyrics and the laid-backness of the music give the message "i cant do nothing right, but so what?!"
definately the best song by less than jake. i love the upbeat sound to it, and yet the lyrics are so negative at the same time. i just can't believe nobody else has commented on it much?