"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.
Lonley, the life, that once I lead
Strange, the paths, on which we tread
Lead me to you, unlikely but true
Sabra girl, clouding my view
Rainy, the day, the first time we met
Deep was the talk, forever my debt
It didn't seem wrong to sing a sad song
Sabra girl, soon you'll be gone
Early, the morning, and sad the goodbye
With a wave of your hand and a smile of your eye
So, lately didn't meet, no sooner depart
Sabra girl, homeward, must start
Rosy, the lines that you wrote with your hand
Reading between them to misunderstand
I made the mistake you said not to make
Yes, reading the letters, conviction did grow
I thought it a chance, I knew I must go
It's hard to believe I could be so naive
Sabra girl, flattered but deceived
Now you just told me that friendship is all
I'm forced to repair the breech in my wall
Illusions and dreams, as usual, it seems
Sabra girl, they've been my downfall
Lonely the life, and dismal the view
Closed is the road that leads to you
Since better can't be, as friends we'll agree
Sabra girl, time will cure me
Strange, the paths, on which we tread
Lead me to you, unlikely but true
Sabra girl, clouding my view
Rainy, the day, the first time we met
Deep was the talk, forever my debt
It didn't seem wrong to sing a sad song
Sabra girl, soon you'll be gone
Early, the morning, and sad the goodbye
With a wave of your hand and a smile of your eye
So, lately didn't meet, no sooner depart
Sabra girl, homeward, must start
Rosy, the lines that you wrote with your hand
Reading between them to misunderstand
I made the mistake you said not to make
Yes, reading the letters, conviction did grow
I thought it a chance, I knew I must go
It's hard to believe I could be so naive
Sabra girl, flattered but deceived
Now you just told me that friendship is all
I'm forced to repair the breech in my wall
Illusions and dreams, as usual, it seems
Sabra girl, they've been my downfall
Lonely the life, and dismal the view
Closed is the road that leads to you
Since better can't be, as friends we'll agree
Sabra girl, time will cure me
Lyrics submitted by LilyBear
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Sara is an amazing musician, so is Cris and Sean, but Sara really shines in this song, absolutely amazing.