"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.
Is it true what they say,
Are we too blind to find a way?
Fear of the unknown clouds our hearts today.
Come into my world,
See trough my eyes.
Try to understand,
Don't want to lose what we have.
We've been dreaming
But who can deny,
It's the best way of living
Between the truth and the lies.
See who I am,
Break through the surface.
Reach for my hand,
Let's show them that we can
Free our minds and find a way.
The world is in our hands,
This is not the end.
Fear is withering the soul
At the point of no return.
We must be the change
We wish to see.
I'll come into your world,
See trough your eyes.
I'll try to understand,
Before we lose what we have.
We just can't stop believing
Because we have to try.
We can rise above
Their truth and their lies.
See who I am,
Break through the surface.
Reach for my hand,
Let's show them that we can
Free our minds and find a way.
The world is in our hands,
This is not the end.
I hear their silence
Preaching my blame.
Will our strength remain
If their power reigns?
See who I am,
Break through the surface.
Reach for my hand,
Let's show them that we can
Free our minds and find a way.
The world is in our hands,
This is not the end.
Are we too blind to find a way?
Fear of the unknown clouds our hearts today.
Come into my world,
See trough my eyes.
Try to understand,
Don't want to lose what we have.
We've been dreaming
But who can deny,
It's the best way of living
Between the truth and the lies.
See who I am,
Break through the surface.
Reach for my hand,
Let's show them that we can
Free our minds and find a way.
The world is in our hands,
This is not the end.
Fear is withering the soul
At the point of no return.
We must be the change
We wish to see.
I'll come into your world,
See trough your eyes.
I'll try to understand,
Before we lose what we have.
We just can't stop believing
Because we have to try.
We can rise above
Their truth and their lies.
See who I am,
Break through the surface.
Reach for my hand,
Let's show them that we can
Free our minds and find a way.
The world is in our hands,
This is not the end.
I hear their silence
Preaching my blame.
Will our strength remain
If their power reigns?
See who I am,
Break through the surface.
Reach for my hand,
Let's show them that we can
Free our minds and find a way.
The world is in our hands,
This is not the end.
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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/
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.
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 don't think it is about a relationship between two people in particular, rather I think it is talking about tolerance, ie, people of different racial, religious, etc backgrounds seeing past the steriotypes ("Between the truth and the lies"; "Come into my/your world, See through my/your eyes") and see them as the people they really are. To do the only thing we can to fight intolerance - remove it from our own hearts and be an example to the world: We must be the change, We wish to see. I could be wrong, but thats how I interpet it, and think its a powerful message and a great song.