"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 true there were better ones
That led their people
To lead their country
Who cared for this world
But who are we to change
Without the strength of all
The nations will crumble
Feed lies for war
Bring the nations to it's knees
Risking worldly structure and integrity
The balance of our kind controlled by hatred,
Distorted truth and lies
United is the only way to stand
Leaders of the free world lead into the land of the un-free
God sent politics hammered down with a fist too bold
Play the council of pawns in the quest of total control
Free us of this hate
Free us from this hate
Take over the world
Does hate mean freedom
Divide our home
Does hate mean freedom
Take over the world
Divide our home
Does hate mean freedom
That led their people
To lead their country
Who cared for this world
But who are we to change
Without the strength of all
The nations will crumble
Feed lies for war
Bring the nations to it's knees
Risking worldly structure and integrity
The balance of our kind controlled by hatred,
Distorted truth and lies
United is the only way to stand
Leaders of the free world lead into the land of the un-free
God sent politics hammered down with a fist too bold
Play the council of pawns in the quest of total control
Free us of this hate
Free us from this hate
Take over the world
Does hate mean freedom
Divide our home
Does hate mean freedom
Take over the world
Divide our home
Does hate mean freedom
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I'm really thinking this song has a lot to do with the war in Iraq and how the U.S. is isolating itself from the rest of the world.
i love everything about this song the breakdowns the harmonies the vocals the lyrics everrything is perfect in my opinion. I love this song the lyrics are staight forward but articulate at the same time its fuckin awesome
This song definetely has alot of views in it. First it states that hatred is a way to control masses to make them agree with wars. ie we're told by the media etc that muslims are evil and all terrorists. I think the meaning of this song is to tell people to see past all of these differences and to make their own opinions on who is evil. cuz if u look at it we used to be allies with iraq and our country switches sides on who its against all of the time.
"feed lies for war" could have something to the false pretenses for invading Iraq like WMDs and other falso threats. "god sent politics" sounds like bush to me. Since he said that god told him to invade iraq. "Leaders of the free world Lead into the land of the un-free" I believe this is simple the United States leading troops into a Iraq.
This song is incredible by the way.
if anybody's interested
go to 1:20 from that part onwards for about 30 odd seconds it sounds parkway drive ish
the first few lines basically says that a lot of people whom we call "leaders" are false...there have been better ones...and the present ones should act like those good leaders. "Controlled by hatred, distorted truth and lies" could mean that modern society (mainly american) is bent on destroying the people of iraq and whatnot because we are being told that they are evil and are terrorists...every single of 'em...
this is one of my favourite songs on the album
LOL. You dimwits are every bit as brainwashed as those you accuse of being so.
Kick-ass song. Brain-damaged fans.