"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.
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I learn, the more I ignore
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I hear, the more I ignore
No I'm not listening, not anymore, No
'Cause you gotta be bigger, be faster, be stronger
If your gonna survive any longer
In this lifetime, it better be the right time
The first time might be your last time
Am I a failure if I got nothing to lose
No, I'm not a failure, I got something to prove
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I learn, the more I ignore
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I hear, the more I ignore, the more I ignore
'Cause I've lost my innocence
And I'm a stranger, A life changer
I'm a man that's not afraid of danger
I walk my own path, and blaze my own trail
Because I'm not afraid to derail
I won't get in line or be a middle man
So fuck you I'll make my own plan
And I got respect and I don't neglect
The people that I really care to protect
Am I a failure if I got nothing to lose
No, I'm not a failure, I got something to prove
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I learn, the more I ignore
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I hear, the more I ignore, the more I ignore
I told you before, won't listen anymore
I told you before, lets settle the score
I told you before, won't listen anymore
I told you before, lets settle the score
If not them then who?
If not now then when?
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I learn, the more I ignore
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I hear, the more I ignore, the more I ignore
I told you before, won't listen anymore
I told you before, lets settle the score
I told you before, won't listen anymore
I told you before, lets settle the score
Set it off right now
Blow it up, set it off
Fuck it up, set it off
Blow it up, Blow it up right now
The more I learn, the more I ignore
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I hear, the more I ignore
No I'm not listening, not anymore, No
'Cause you gotta be bigger, be faster, be stronger
If your gonna survive any longer
In this lifetime, it better be the right time
The first time might be your last time
Am I a failure if I got nothing to lose
No, I'm not a failure, I got something to prove
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I learn, the more I ignore
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I hear, the more I ignore, the more I ignore
'Cause I've lost my innocence
And I'm a stranger, A life changer
I'm a man that's not afraid of danger
I walk my own path, and blaze my own trail
Because I'm not afraid to derail
I won't get in line or be a middle man
So fuck you I'll make my own plan
And I got respect and I don't neglect
The people that I really care to protect
Am I a failure if I got nothing to lose
No, I'm not a failure, I got something to prove
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I learn, the more I ignore
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I hear, the more I ignore, the more I ignore
I told you before, won't listen anymore
I told you before, lets settle the score
I told you before, won't listen anymore
I told you before, lets settle the score
If not them then who?
If not now then when?
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I learn, the more I ignore
I'm not listening, not anymore
The more I hear, the more I ignore, the more I ignore
I told you before, won't listen anymore
I told you before, lets settle the score
I told you before, won't listen anymore
I told you before, lets settle the score
Set it off right now
Blow it up, set it off
Fuck it up, set it off
Blow it up, Blow it up right now
Lyrics submitted by prayingmantis84
Not Listening Lyrics as written by Jacoby Shaddix David Buckner
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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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.
Key Lyrics analysation by the Evil Aussie
'Cause you gotta be bigger And be faster And be stronger If you're gonna survive any longer
This is saying what people believe, To get further in your world you have to be Bigger, Stronger and Faster than anyone else.
And this lifetime It better be the right time 'Cause the first time Might be your last time
This means that you should treat every thing in life like it is your only opportunity even if you have done it all before. In other words it is saying live life like you have one day left to live
Am I a failure If I got nothing to lose No, I'm not a failure I've got something to prove'
You have to be a blind monkey not to understand this part. Its talking about what Chino 69 said at the top.
Cause I've lost my innocence And I'm a stranger A life changer I'm a man that's not afraid of danger
This is saying that he isn't naive or anything and isn't afraid to do what he likes. He isn't afraid of what it will cost or the consequences.
I walk my own path And blaze my own trail Because I'm not afraid to derail
This is saying that he is living life without relying on someone else and can do what he needs to do without fear.
I won't get in line Or be your middle man So, fuck you, I make my own plans
This means he won't take orders from anyone else and makes his own plans for life.
And I got respect And I don't neglect The people that I really care to protect
This means he has respect from those that he is trying to help and he won't forget about them.
Thats all, You can figure out the rest on your own.