"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 me show you what I'm made of
Good intentions are not enough
To get me though today and this life
You're in the basement watching the TV
I'm on the second floor watching the ceiling
We sleep underneath the same big sky at night
I dream the same dream we can fly
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
But I am right beside you
In this life
Let me tell you who you really are
You're my comfort
You're not a superstar
I can reach up and bring you back down to the ground
And give you everything you dream about
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
But I am right beside you
In this life
I'll give you all the things that I never get
Give you all I have and have no regrets
Take you to the places that I've never been
Forgive you all the things that you can't forget
Take away the pain with my healing hand
Wash away your sins and set your spirit free
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
But I am right beside you
In this life
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
I am right beside you
In this life
Let me show you what I'm made of
Good intentions are not enough
To get me though today and this life
You're in the basement watching the TV
I'm on the second floor watching the ceiling
We sleep underneath the same big sky at night
I dream the same dream we can fly
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
But I am right beside you
In this life
Let me tell you who you really are
You're my comfort
You're not a superstar
I can reach up and bring you back down to the ground
And give you everything you dream about
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
But I am right beside you
In this life
I'll give you all the things that I never get
Give you all I have and have no regrets
Take you to the places that I've never been
Forgive you all the things that you can't forget
Take away the pain with my healing hand
Wash away your sins and set your spirit free
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
But I am right beside you
In this life
You can run from me
And you can hide from me
I am right beside you
In this life
Let me show you what I'm made of
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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”
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
JESUS!
Yep.
I read it was Jesus talking to us :/
Wow.. first comment on such a lovely song. Okay, well I think this song is about someone who is just really stubborn and wants to hide away from the world because they don't want to deal with the problems in their life. But Chantal tries to be a comforting friend by telling that person that no matter what, she'll always be by their side and take away their pain. For some reason I think that the relationship between these two people are mother and son.
Heh, this song is SO about Chantal's husband, Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida. I mean, come on "You're my comfort, not a superstar?"
Awesome song though. Perfect for any relationship where your SO is messed up, your relationship is messed up, but you love them anyway and want to fix it all for them.
this song was perfect in Saved!
i have loved this song ever since i first hear it in saved! i dont really know anything about Chantal, but from what i can tell its just a song about how like Katouz said, two messed up people in one messed up relationship trying to fix two messed up lives.
this whole week. hell this whole year and half ever since im moved has been well.. .hell! and idunno i cant personally relate to this song but it just makes me feel good. i feel happy when i listen to it. nothing matter its just me and the song =] that real music. she's a real artist. all her music in some sense makes me ...happy =] ah ok. i feel better now =]
well. my dad and i argue a lot, and this describes our relationship perfectly. he always thinks he's right and is so arrogant... but i still love him and just want to bring him back down to earth and talk to him as a real person, and not when he's putting on his "perfect" front.
great song :D
I'm feeling that Lindsay. It actually does sound like a parent child relationship. I was thinking mother daughter you know. But in general parent-child fo sho.