"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.
Well it's Saturday night
And you know what that means
It's time for laps that's right
Start to rev those machines
You may think we're crazy
Driving round and round
But you would be this proud
If your sounds were this loud
Well I got my Holden
And I'm ready for rolling
This car ain't stolen
I've been saving my dough man
You may think I'm crazy
And my brain is thrashed
But you're only saying that
'Cause you ain't true white trash
'Cause I'm white trash
Yeah I'm real white trash
If you want to see white trash
I'll show you white trash
Do you know what I mean
Well I walked out of school at twelve
I couldn't handle those letters
So I started my career
Don't at my uncles car wreckers
You should see my new hairdo
I dyed it jet black
Oh well its short on top
And it's long in the back
Well I got my belt buckle
And I'm wearing it out
'Cause I want to show the ladies what I'm all about
Well my jeans come in all colors as long as its black
'Cause I want to show the world that I'm true white trash
And you know what that means
It's time for laps that's right
Start to rev those machines
You may think we're crazy
Driving round and round
But you would be this proud
If your sounds were this loud
Well I got my Holden
And I'm ready for rolling
This car ain't stolen
I've been saving my dough man
You may think I'm crazy
And my brain is thrashed
But you're only saying that
'Cause you ain't true white trash
'Cause I'm white trash
Yeah I'm real white trash
If you want to see white trash
I'll show you white trash
Do you know what I mean
Well I walked out of school at twelve
I couldn't handle those letters
So I started my career
Don't at my uncles car wreckers
You should see my new hairdo
I dyed it jet black
Oh well its short on top
And it's long in the back
Well I got my belt buckle
And I'm wearing it out
'Cause I want to show the ladies what I'm all about
Well my jeans come in all colors as long as its black
'Cause I want to show the world that I'm true white trash
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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.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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 song rocks, and so does the band they DO not need to work on lyrics.