"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.
The faded words on the brick walls
Sheets, box springs, mattresses
Betrayed the fact the field outback
Was the bed of two men Willie and Dan
Men of vision ahead of their peers
Unfortunately in between careers
Whatever the last straw, the bad break
It was not to be their last mistake
Dan had just spent his last penny
On a minute in the bush with reach-around Jenny
"Get over here claptrap"
Willie said and he flashed a smooth fat bottle of red
"Where the fuck did you get that Willie?
It's got a cork"
Dan gave his lips a lick
Went back to the bush to look for a stick
"Hold on Dan, you've got not class
You treat your liquor like you chase your ass
We may not have the crystal, or the table
But of one thing we're able
We're gonna consult the label"
"Fine, fine, fine!"
"This fine red wine is a bouquet that pleases
Serve with red meats, poultry and cheese"
It's coming to light what are you
What are you eating for dinner tonight?
Well Dan was confused over some of the words
Willie had to tell him that poultry was birds
"I heard that bestowed on by an honorary degree
On one stupid fuck from the University"
"Oh Willie how" asked Dan "do you expect me to wait?
Crack that baby and I will gladly pretend I am eating a steak"
"Listen up, I though this through
Check it out, down at the slew
The geese are all to fat to fly
They're slow and they're weak
And they're fucking huge
Me and you, all we gotta do
A rope, a rock, a four by two
When they're asleep, we creep up
We bash out the turd and we bag us a bird"
It's coming to light what are you
What are you eating for dinner tonight?
But the geese were quick and had the men miss stepping
They slipped up the bank and abandoned their weapons
Willie had a gander by the feet
Dan had the neck, it was hissing and spitting
Nipping his arms the welts raising
And so raging he whacked the head down
Repeatedly on the bike path
Until it was good and dead
Willie was flat on his back laughing
"Oh great hunter you must tired
You start the plucking and I'll get the fire"
But the goose wasn't cooking on the inside whole
They ripped off strips rolled 'em in the coals
Pushed in the cork with a felt pen top
Easy down so they didn't spill a drop
"When was the last time Dan do you know
You had a fat full belly and a good wine glow?
You tell me now which is which
Hey, the middle of the road or the middle of the ditch"
They rode the high until the bottle dripped dry
And song after song couldn't help them along
Well two men's wishing is as good as a command
So they scrounged enough for a flat of wild cat and got slammed
By morning a crowd had formed by the river bank
Willie and Dan were hauled to the drunk tank
Forced to appear in court for the killing of the goose
Clear city park bylaw abuse
Asked in turn how the two men plead
Willie claimed "We were helplessly led by our guts
It's like snapping, during a kidnapping
Well that's me anyway, Dan here's nuts"
"Hey!"
The judge was annoyed with the courtroom fool
Told Will and Dan they were reckless and cruel
"One question sir and I'll admit you're right
What are you eating for dinner tonight?
At least the geese set their sight to flight
Yah, what are you eating for dinner tonight?"
It's coming to light what are you
It's coming to light what are you
It's coming to light what are you
Well now, what are you eating for dinner tonight?
Sheets, box springs, mattresses
Betrayed the fact the field outback
Was the bed of two men Willie and Dan
Men of vision ahead of their peers
Unfortunately in between careers
Whatever the last straw, the bad break
It was not to be their last mistake
Dan had just spent his last penny
On a minute in the bush with reach-around Jenny
"Get over here claptrap"
Willie said and he flashed a smooth fat bottle of red
"Where the fuck did you get that Willie?
It's got a cork"
Dan gave his lips a lick
Went back to the bush to look for a stick
"Hold on Dan, you've got not class
You treat your liquor like you chase your ass
We may not have the crystal, or the table
But of one thing we're able
We're gonna consult the label"
"Fine, fine, fine!"
"This fine red wine is a bouquet that pleases
Serve with red meats, poultry and cheese"
It's coming to light what are you
What are you eating for dinner tonight?
Well Dan was confused over some of the words
Willie had to tell him that poultry was birds
"I heard that bestowed on by an honorary degree
On one stupid fuck from the University"
"Oh Willie how" asked Dan "do you expect me to wait?
Crack that baby and I will gladly pretend I am eating a steak"
"Listen up, I though this through
Check it out, down at the slew
The geese are all to fat to fly
They're slow and they're weak
And they're fucking huge
Me and you, all we gotta do
A rope, a rock, a four by two
When they're asleep, we creep up
We bash out the turd and we bag us a bird"
It's coming to light what are you
What are you eating for dinner tonight?
But the geese were quick and had the men miss stepping
They slipped up the bank and abandoned their weapons
Willie had a gander by the feet
Dan had the neck, it was hissing and spitting
Nipping his arms the welts raising
And so raging he whacked the head down
Repeatedly on the bike path
Until it was good and dead
Willie was flat on his back laughing
"Oh great hunter you must tired
You start the plucking and I'll get the fire"
But the goose wasn't cooking on the inside whole
They ripped off strips rolled 'em in the coals
Pushed in the cork with a felt pen top
Easy down so they didn't spill a drop
"When was the last time Dan do you know
You had a fat full belly and a good wine glow?
You tell me now which is which
Hey, the middle of the road or the middle of the ditch"
They rode the high until the bottle dripped dry
And song after song couldn't help them along
Well two men's wishing is as good as a command
So they scrounged enough for a flat of wild cat and got slammed
By morning a crowd had formed by the river bank
Willie and Dan were hauled to the drunk tank
Forced to appear in court for the killing of the goose
Clear city park bylaw abuse
Asked in turn how the two men plead
Willie claimed "We were helplessly led by our guts
It's like snapping, during a kidnapping
Well that's me anyway, Dan here's nuts"
"Hey!"
The judge was annoyed with the courtroom fool
Told Will and Dan they were reckless and cruel
"One question sir and I'll admit you're right
What are you eating for dinner tonight?
At least the geese set their sight to flight
Yah, what are you eating for dinner tonight?"
It's coming to light what are you
It's coming to light what are you
It's coming to light what are you
Well now, what are you eating for dinner tonight?
Lyrics submitted by dryorange
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
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.
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.