"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.
It's your life
Don't you let em tell you when to bat your eyes
You're the only one who's gonna sacrifice
Makes no difference if you're right or wrong
Take that ride
But I want your little sister by your side
Maybe little later we can all collide
Do our lovin' like a rollin' stone
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted
Innocent smile
Runnin' free
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Show your face
Livin' in the shadows like you got no name
Enough to make a little girly go insane
Be my guest to let it out tonight
It's ok
I know all about the little games you play
Shakin' your apple right in my face
Only when you know that I'm beggin' for a bite
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted
Innocent smile
Runnin' free
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is
I'm gonna get your mama, I'm gonna get your pa
I'm gonna everybody, just a what I saw
So won't you show your face (show your face)
Your little apple shake (show your face)
I know the love you gave (show your face)
I know the love you take (show your face)
Innocent smile
Runnin' free
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Innocent smile
Runnin' free
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Don't you let em tell you when to bat your eyes
You're the only one who's gonna sacrifice
Makes no difference if you're right or wrong
Take that ride
But I want your little sister by your side
Maybe little later we can all collide
Do our lovin' like a rollin' stone
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted
Innocent smile
Runnin' free
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Show your face
Livin' in the shadows like you got no name
Enough to make a little girly go insane
Be my guest to let it out tonight
It's ok
I know all about the little games you play
Shakin' your apple right in my face
Only when you know that I'm beggin' for a bite
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted
Innocent smile
Runnin' free
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is wasted time
Time on me is
I'm gonna get your mama, I'm gonna get your pa
I'm gonna everybody, just a what I saw
So won't you show your face (show your face)
Your little apple shake (show your face)
I know the love you gave (show your face)
I know the love you take (show your face)
Innocent smile
Runnin' free
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Innocent smile
Runnin' free
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
Baby's gonna give it like it used to be
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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/
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.
presumabley about 'making do' and not doing the things in life you want to.