"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.
Mean Thoughts and Cheap Shots
im not losing my war thats in my mind
and i will spread my wings and soar
and i will fly-and no i will never deny
whats in my heart whats in my life will be justified
the mean thoughts and cheap shots they will not weaken me
the mean thoughts and cheap shots well we're not weakening...thats for sure
and i wont be afraid of taking this out
i know ill be safe and sound
cus you will be with me
fighting in all these rounds
and ill shout out so loud
"i know without a doubt that ill be standing there when you go down"
Cus all these things ive seen
well now ill try my best
and you will be with me to never second-guess
and we will show the world
just how we passed this test
and we will show the world we're better than this mess
Cus im not losing my war thats in my mind
and i will spread my wings and soar
and i will fly-and no i will never deny
whats in my heart whats in my life will be justified
the mean thoughts and cheap shots they will not weaken me
the mean thoughts and cheap shots well we're not weakening
The mean thoughts and cheap shots
and mean lies
and mean plots
and mean thoughts
and cheap shots wont last for long.
Cus all these things ive seen
well now ill try my best
and you will be with me to never second guess
and we will show the world just how we passed this test
and we will show the world we're better than this mess
Cus im not losing my war thats in my mind
and i will spread my wings and soar
and i will fly-and no i will never deny
whats in my heart whats in my life will be justified
the mean thoughts and cheap shots they will not weaken me
the mean thoughts and cheap shots well we're not weakening
The mean thoughts and cheap shots
and mean lies
and mean plots
and mean thoughts
and cheap shots wont last for long.
im not losing my war thats in my mind
and i will spread my wings and soar
and i will fly-and no i will never deny
whats in my heart whats in my life will be justified
the mean thoughts and cheap shots they will not weaken me
the mean thoughts and cheap shots well we're not weakening...thats for sure
and i wont be afraid of taking this out
i know ill be safe and sound
cus you will be with me
fighting in all these rounds
and ill shout out so loud
"i know without a doubt that ill be standing there when you go down"
Cus all these things ive seen
well now ill try my best
and you will be with me to never second-guess
and we will show the world
just how we passed this test
and we will show the world we're better than this mess
Cus im not losing my war thats in my mind
and i will spread my wings and soar
and i will fly-and no i will never deny
whats in my heart whats in my life will be justified
the mean thoughts and cheap shots they will not weaken me
the mean thoughts and cheap shots well we're not weakening
The mean thoughts and cheap shots
and mean lies
and mean plots
and mean thoughts
and cheap shots wont last for long.
Cus all these things ive seen
well now ill try my best
and you will be with me to never second guess
and we will show the world just how we passed this test
and we will show the world we're better than this mess
Cus im not losing my war thats in my mind
and i will spread my wings and soar
and i will fly-and no i will never deny
whats in my heart whats in my life will be justified
the mean thoughts and cheap shots they will not weaken me
the mean thoughts and cheap shots well we're not weakening
The mean thoughts and cheap shots
and mean lies
and mean plots
and mean thoughts
and cheap shots wont last for long.
Lyrics submitted by vindicated
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I think that Bryce is with someone that society rejects, but together they can take on the world. He is a strong enough person to overcome any adversity he will face as a result of whatever has caused it, and he refuses to lose "the war that's in his mind"