"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.
Let's get it started in here
And the bass keeps runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin'
And runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin'
And runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin'
And runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin' and
In this context, there's no disrespect
So when I bust my rhyme, you break your necks
We got five minutes for us to disconnect
From all intellect and let the rhythm effect
To lose this inhibition, follow your intuition
Free your inner soul and break away from tradition
'Cause when we be out, girlies pull they weave out
You wouldn't believe how we wow shit out
Burn it 'til it's burned out, turn it 'til it's turned out
Act up from north, west, east, south
Everybody (yeah), everybody (yeah)
Let's get into it (yeah), get stupid (come on)
Get it started (come on), get it started (yeah)
Get it started
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here, yeah
Lose control of body and soul
Don't move too fast, people, just take it slow
Don't get ahead, just jump into it
Y'all hear about it, the Peas will do it
Get started, get stupid
Don't worry about it, people, we'll walk you through it
Step by step like an infant new kid
Inch by inch with the new solution
Transmit hits with no delusion
The feeling's irresistible and that's how we movin'
(Yo) Everybody (yeah), everybody (yeah)
Let's get into it (yeah) and get stupid (come on)
Get it started (come on), get it started (yeah)
Get it started
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here, yeah
(And the bass keeps runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin')
Come on y'all, let's get coo-koo, uh-huh, let's get coo-koo in here
Wild out, get coo-koo, uh-huh, let's get coo-koo in here
Wild out, get coo-koo, uh-huh, let's get coo-koo in here (oh, oh, oh)
Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya
Let's get ill, that's the deal
At the gate and we'll bring the bugged out drill
(Just) Lose your mind, this is the time
Y'all can't stand still, twist and bang your spine
(Just) Bob your head like me, apl.de
Up inside your club or in your Bentley
Get messy, loud and sick
Y'all mind pass normal on another head trip
(So) Come them now, do not correct it
Let's get ignant, let's get hectic
Everybody (yeah), everybody (yeah)
Let's get into it (yeah), get stupid (come on)
Get it started (come on), get it started
Get it started
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here, yeah (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Get coo-koo, uh-huh, we coo-koo in here
Let's get coo-koo (yeah, yeah), uh-huh, we coo-koo in here
Wild out, get coo-koo (yeah, yeah), uh-huh, we coo-koo in here (oh, oh, oh)
(Come on and say) Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya
And runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin'
And runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin'
And the bass keeps runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin'
And runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin'
And runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin'
And runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin' and
In this context, there's no disrespect
So when I bust my rhyme, you break your necks
We got five minutes for us to disconnect
From all intellect and let the rhythm effect
To lose this inhibition, follow your intuition
Free your inner soul and break away from tradition
'Cause when we be out, girlies pull they weave out
You wouldn't believe how we wow shit out
Burn it 'til it's burned out, turn it 'til it's turned out
Act up from north, west, east, south
Everybody (yeah), everybody (yeah)
Let's get into it (yeah), get stupid (come on)
Get it started (come on), get it started (yeah)
Get it started
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here, yeah
Lose control of body and soul
Don't move too fast, people, just take it slow
Don't get ahead, just jump into it
Y'all hear about it, the Peas will do it
Get started, get stupid
Don't worry about it, people, we'll walk you through it
Step by step like an infant new kid
Inch by inch with the new solution
Transmit hits with no delusion
The feeling's irresistible and that's how we movin'
(Yo) Everybody (yeah), everybody (yeah)
Let's get into it (yeah) and get stupid (come on)
Get it started (come on), get it started (yeah)
Get it started
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here, yeah
(And the bass keeps runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin')
Come on y'all, let's get coo-koo, uh-huh, let's get coo-koo in here
Wild out, get coo-koo, uh-huh, let's get coo-koo in here
Wild out, get coo-koo, uh-huh, let's get coo-koo in here (oh, oh, oh)
Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya
Let's get ill, that's the deal
At the gate and we'll bring the bugged out drill
(Just) Lose your mind, this is the time
Y'all can't stand still, twist and bang your spine
(Just) Bob your head like me, apl.de
Up inside your club or in your Bentley
Get messy, loud and sick
Y'all mind pass normal on another head trip
(So) Come them now, do not correct it
Let's get ignant, let's get hectic
Everybody (yeah), everybody (yeah)
Let's get into it (yeah), get stupid (come on)
Get it started (come on), get it started
Get it started
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here
Let's get it started (ha)
Let's get it started in here, yeah (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Get coo-koo, uh-huh, we coo-koo in here
Let's get coo-koo (yeah, yeah), uh-huh, we coo-koo in here
Wild out, get coo-koo (yeah, yeah), uh-huh, we coo-koo in here (oh, oh, oh)
(Come on and say) Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya
And runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin'
And runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin'
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.
QP: I also hate this group now, which is a pity, because I really liked them before they sold out completely by releasing the musical abortion that is Elephunk. It's quite sad, because Bridging The Gaps was excellent.
"Let's Get It Started"? Ugh. If people are offended by your song, you should never change it to make more money from it.