"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.
So if you're lonely
You know I'm here waiting for you
I'm just a crosshair
I'm just a shot away from you
And if you leave here
You leave me broken, shattered, I lie
I'm just a crosshair
I'm just a shot, then we can die
Ah
I know I won't be leaving here with you
I say, "don't you know?"
You say you don't know
I say, "take me out"
I say, "you don't show"
Don't move, time is slow
I say, "take me out"
I say, "you don't know"
You say you don't go
I say, "take me out"
If I move, this could die
If eyes move, this could die
I want you to take me out
I know I won't be leaving here (with you)
I know I won't be leaving here
I know I won't be leaving here (with you)
I know I won't be leaving here with you
I say, "don't you know?"
You say you don't know
I say, "take me out"
If I wane, this could die
If I wait, this could die
I want you to take me out
If I move, this could die
Eyes move, this can die
Come on, take me out
I know I won't be leaving here (with you)
I know I won't be leaving here
I know I won't be leaving here (with you)
I know I won't be leaving here with you
You know I'm here waiting for you
I'm just a crosshair
I'm just a shot away from you
And if you leave here
You leave me broken, shattered, I lie
I'm just a crosshair
I'm just a shot, then we can die
Ah
I know I won't be leaving here with you
I say, "don't you know?"
You say you don't know
I say, "take me out"
I say, "you don't show"
Don't move, time is slow
I say, "take me out"
I say, "you don't know"
You say you don't go
I say, "take me out"
If I move, this could die
If eyes move, this could die
I want you to take me out
I know I won't be leaving here (with you)
I know I won't be leaving here
I know I won't be leaving here (with you)
I know I won't be leaving here with you
I say, "don't you know?"
You say you don't know
I say, "take me out"
If I wane, this could die
If I wait, this could die
I want you to take me out
If I move, this could die
Eyes move, this can die
Come on, take me out
I know I won't be leaving here (with you)
I know I won't be leaving here
I know I won't be leaving here (with you)
I know I won't be leaving here with you
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
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.
Saw them live recently- before they played it, they explained it.
'Franz Ferdinand' are named after the guy who was shot, a minor incident in Eastern Europe that lead to the outbreak of World War 1. Ferdinand and his wife were shot at the same time; the song talks about the moment between his wife being shot and him dying- he feels he might as well be dead, "Come on, take me out!", his wife's murders have left him 'broken, shattered I lie'.
A very melancholy for such a upbeat song with such a funky riff.
Bosnia is widely considered to be part of Eastern Europe. Great song, I love the historical reference.
Franz Ferdinand was the Arch Duke of Austria, was killed by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Serbian movement known as the "Black Hand" on June 28, 1914, and is considered the final straw that caused the Great War to break out.<br /> <br /> <br /> And, 'dame13', I am an American and am careful with my history and take it seriously. I also know that we primarily became involved in WW1 because the Germans tried to get Mexico to join them and attack us via the infamous "Zimmerman Note", and likely sunk the Lusitania.<br /> <br /> Your profile says that you yourself are in the United States, so how much of our own history do you know?
yeah honestly dame13, I'm from the U.S. too, and i am a history buff myself. Uhm..ignorant is a strong word. maybe misinformed but ignorant?<br /> <br /> Think before you speak my friend.
On the "Greatest Song of the Noughties"(E4) (Take Me Out came a shockingly lowly 16) Alex Kapranos stated he was 'watching a movie where two snipers were trying to kill each other. They were in hide-outs opposite each otherwaiting for the other one to make a move and this seemed like a good metaphor for the way people interect with each other, not wanting to give away their emotions and sometimes you justw ant to give away your position and say "Oh go on! Take me Out!!! Just end it I'd rather that than continue the tension". <br /> <br /> In addition the account of Franz Ferdinands death by Joachim Remak (called Sarajevo) says that the aRch-dukes last words were "It is nothing" in responce to Count Harrach asking him if he was suffering after being shot in the neck (unless he was the Black Knight from Monty Python a redundant question).
umh dame? mean much? come on, don't be a jerk! <br /> plus, that's really bias. saying "all Americans are stupid" is like saying "all dark skinned people speak Spanish." its stupid<br /> so , before you diss the U.S. by saying we're stupid, think about how stupid and ignorant you're being
It wasn't really a minor incident. He was the leader of one of the major countries of World War I. The band is named after Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. Assassinated by a student hired by a Serbian Nationalist group (The Black Hand.) And the assassin was one of six assassins hired that day to assassinate him.
Crosshair nailed it. Gawd knows where he got the energy to write so much:) It's an excellent song by an excellent band... one of my favorites, although I probably say that about a few too many bands ;) The about a guy in love but he lacks confidence. Haven't met too many of those types in my lifetime. Wow, music makes me laugh....just thinking about a college-aged man named Yasime Rahim from Tanzania who's dad was a diplomat to Russia. Yasime asked me to marry him after we had known each other (sitting around listening to music) just two weeks. I laughed thinking he was joking. He immediately left the room and didn't speak with me for a few days....finally explaining that in his country not all people date first. Then he proposed again. Talk about feeling like a schumck for saying NO. We did begin a friendship, though, and he promised not to ask me again. Sorry for the story of my life; I had just forgotten about that first proposal...
Yeah I must be from his country. :|
I see three potential interpretations running in this song.
1: Voice is of Ferdinand, talking towards his wife, in the moments between her death and his.
2: Voice is of Ferdinand, talking towards his assassin, right before being shot.
3: Voice is of a person, somewhere, who wants to be with someone, but knows they won't be, and is "broken shattered I lie" by their rejection.
As I see it, #1 or 2 is definitely intentional, and #3 is most likely partially intended. The reason I believe he's speaking to his assassin is because the words "take me out" seem to be most specifically directed towards the assassin. In this interpretation, the song takes place in the split second where Ferdinand makes eye contact with the shooter, right before being killed. Accordingly, the song is about the emotional connection between them, and Ferdinand begging to die out of sadness over the loss of his wife, by that interpretation.
Today is the 100th anniversary of Franz Ferdinand and his wife being killed, thus starting WW1, so this is the song of the day I suppose.
this song makes me wanna dance! the riff is jus so damn catchy!
Excellent song.
Great song then...nice little history lesson. What of the video? Did it contain any imagery to suggest its meaning? I remember seeing a lot of old school imagery like bareknuckle boxers from near the start of the last century. I really like the switch of guitar play about a quarter of the way through. It's a sound I haven't heard before, very catchy and unusual.
It is quite sad if you focus on the lyrics... I also like the bit when the beat slows down, just before the main riff comes in.
Oh, god, not the MTV thing again. I really don't see what the problem is; sure, all the shows suck, but what does that have to do with the videos they play? And if it wasn't on MTV, where else would you see it? VH1 only plays "adult-alternative". All the other music videos are owned by MTV. Launch is nice, but I like to watch videos before they get ran through the grain-o-filter. Near as I can tell, the only reason that a band would stay permanently underground is that NO ONE WANTS TO LISTEN TO THEM. Getting accepted into mainstream is a reflection that it at least sounds good, even if people don't fully appreciate what they're listening to. Unless you make it a point to listen to things that no one else could enjoy, be prepared to hear more of your favorite bands on the radio, or even(GASP!) MTV. I mean, you never hear Juggaloes complain about ICP selling out.
what I mean about the mtv thing is, now all the teenybopper idiots might like this band. They're a very good band, one of my favourites... it's just that it's kind of weird to think if teenyboppers/the mtv generation would really like this band.