"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.
You should've been honest
My heart is so heavy
Why you ain't let me know
You wasn't ready
Why you ain't let me know
Why you ain't let me grow
You ain't let it show
You could have let me go
Speak the truth
I can handle it
Wasn't ready
But you ain't say it
I just need
For you to understand
I can do this on my own
You was easing the pain
Showing me love
Keeping me sane
Oh
Everyday
Checking on me
Then it stopped like woah
Now you calling me crazy
I can do that on my own
All the feelings
That you gave me
I keep wishing they were gone
My heart is aching
But I'll keep that on the low
And all the scars that you gave me
Only bleed when I'm alone
Tears dripping down my face as the verse play
I hate I love you but I mean that in the worst way
I'm way too player to be falling for your word play
You put me second but you claiming I'm in first place
Texting on the daily
Blowing up my phone
Now the nigga texting maybe
Trying to read along
While he flipping through the pages
He done did me wrong
He ain't picking up the phone
Now I'm feeling all alone
Speak the truth
I can handle it
Wasn't ready
But you ain't say it
I just need
For you to understand
I can do this on my own
You was easing the pain
Showing me love
Keeping me sane
Oh
Everyday
Checking on me
Then it stopped like woah
Now you calling me crazy
I can do that on my own
All the feelings
That you gave me
I keep wishing they were gone
My heart is aching
But I'll keep that on the low
And all the scars that you gave me
Only bleed when I'm alone
That on my own
They were gone
That on the low
When I'm alone
My heart is so heavy
Why you ain't let me know
You wasn't ready
Why you ain't let me know
Why you ain't let me grow
You ain't let it show
You could have let me go
Speak the truth
I can handle it
Wasn't ready
But you ain't say it
I just need
For you to understand
I can do this on my own
You was easing the pain
Showing me love
Keeping me sane
Oh
Everyday
Checking on me
Then it stopped like woah
Now you calling me crazy
I can do that on my own
All the feelings
That you gave me
I keep wishing they were gone
My heart is aching
But I'll keep that on the low
And all the scars that you gave me
Only bleed when I'm alone
Tears dripping down my face as the verse play
I hate I love you but I mean that in the worst way
I'm way too player to be falling for your word play
You put me second but you claiming I'm in first place
Texting on the daily
Blowing up my phone
Now the nigga texting maybe
Trying to read along
While he flipping through the pages
He done did me wrong
He ain't picking up the phone
Now I'm feeling all alone
Speak the truth
I can handle it
Wasn't ready
But you ain't say it
I just need
For you to understand
I can do this on my own
You was easing the pain
Showing me love
Keeping me sane
Oh
Everyday
Checking on me
Then it stopped like woah
Now you calling me crazy
I can do that on my own
All the feelings
That you gave me
I keep wishing they were gone
My heart is aching
But I'll keep that on the low
And all the scars that you gave me
Only bleed when I'm alone
That on my own
They were gone
That on the low
When I'm alone
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
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.
Well, I think it's about living on your own...