"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.
What I felt
Wasn't wrong
Use to be afraid to be this close to you
Cause in my shadow I'm soothed
And what it took to make it through
You wouldn't believe me if I said it was true
Cause in my shadow I'm proved
Faces move, shadows crawl
Ain't we the same underneath it all
Cause in my shadow I'm sued
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
How I spell
Free as strong
Use to be a muse for hating everything
Cause in my shadow I'm true
And what I took
To give to you
You couldn't fake it
So you let me choose
Cause a broken arrow takes two
Met a psychic
In the bathroom stall
She said paint your night until it falls
Cause in my shadow in sued
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
Green is naked
Teen obscene
Gloss is empty when gleams
Roll the marbles
Fake the team
Needles ripped
And broke the seams
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
Try and make me
Try and make me
Wasn't wrong
Use to be afraid to be this close to you
Cause in my shadow I'm soothed
And what it took to make it through
You wouldn't believe me if I said it was true
Cause in my shadow I'm proved
Faces move, shadows crawl
Ain't we the same underneath it all
Cause in my shadow I'm sued
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
How I spell
Free as strong
Use to be a muse for hating everything
Cause in my shadow I'm true
And what I took
To give to you
You couldn't fake it
So you let me choose
Cause a broken arrow takes two
Met a psychic
In the bathroom stall
She said paint your night until it falls
Cause in my shadow in sued
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
Green is naked
Teen obscene
Gloss is empty when gleams
Roll the marbles
Fake the team
Needles ripped
And broke the seams
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
In my shadow I'm sued
Don't you try and make me feel real
Try and make me
Try and make me
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.