"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.
(Going, Going, Gone)
Still hooked on cellophane, hangin' round the mall and all.
Each penny numbs the pain, sends you gently for the fall
I followed you last night,
I saw you turn your lights out
I knew it wasnt right,
I watched in fear and doubt
It's gotten to be that way
(Going, Going, Gone)
What did you do today?
(Going, Going, Gone)
Look good in that red dress,
I bet the boyfriend's happy
Your face is scarred with age,
You're 23, but how can that be?
You're still hooked on cellophane, killing time with gin and lime
Each second numbs the pain, love's just another rhyme.
It's gotten to be that way
(Going, Going, Gone)
I'm scared but I'm okay
(Going, Going, Gone)
There's nowhere to move on
There's nowhere to move on
All I see, yeah yeah
All I see
All I see, yeah yeah
All I see
All I see, yeah yeah
All I see is me everywhere
It's me doo doo doo doo doo
doo doo
Still hooked on cellophane, hangin' round the mall and all.
Each penny numbs the pain, sends you gently for the fall
I followed you last night,
I saw you turn your lights out
I knew it wasnt right,
I watched in fear and doubt
It's gotten to be that way
(Going, Going, Gone)
What did you do today?
(Going, Going, Gone)
Look good in that red dress,
I bet the boyfriend's happy
Your face is scarred with age,
You're 23, but how can that be?
You're still hooked on cellophane, killing time with gin and lime
Each second numbs the pain, love's just another rhyme.
It's gotten to be that way
(Going, Going, Gone)
I'm scared but I'm okay
(Going, Going, Gone)
There's nowhere to move on
There's nowhere to move on
All I see, yeah yeah
All I see
All I see, yeah yeah
All I see
All I see, yeah yeah
All I see is me everywhere
It's me doo doo doo doo doo
doo doo
Lyrics submitted by oh_doctor_doctor
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
"Long time listener, first time caller", as the saying goes...
I have a habit of cruising around the "Stars" songs on my phone, occasionally finding one that I obsess on, interpreting it in my head, and then coming here to see what the crowdsourced interpretation is.
On this song, I was in a totally different place than any of you, and I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse. IIRC my first listens were to the version where Torq does not sing the "return" of the "call and return" in the chorus and I think that set me off on a very different direction.
To me, cellophane is a metaphor for heroin, since you buy it in cellophane bags. Listen to the whole song with that in mind and it could be interpreted as a piece where Amy/Emily is singing about a friend or a sister, who's killing time between hits, maybe turning tricks to pay for the dope, maybe using gin and lime as a bridge between hits...and worried if maybe she is next.
Or am I totally whacked?
PS I didn't see the spot where Torq talks about the mall, but I have occasionally seen him push interpretations towards very simple meanings, versus the deep ones that we write about here. Who's right or who's wrong? That's why it's poetry - we all see what we want to see. (Worst offender in this case is Carl Newman of the New Pornographers, who more-or-less says the words are chosen only because they rhyme with each other!)
@Marty Being Marty I was surprised to see only one interpretation like this. This is way after the fact, but in case you still check this know that you're not alone in thinking the song is about heroin/addiction.
@Marty Being Marty Yeah there are lots of interpretations but it's almost definitely about heroin addiction
i think hooked on cellophane means that she's addicted to buying new things, which are wrapped in cellophane.
it's "love's just another rhyme"
"It's gotten to be that way"
you forgot the second (Going, Going, Gone) @ the end of the first 'chorus'.
i love the part where she goes "all i see....... yeah yeah"
haaa k, i think that this song is about two people going out a girl and a boy, and the girl thinks that the boy is cheating on her
"I saw you turn your lights out I knew it wasnt right, I watched in fear and doubt"
saying shes watching his every move, and.....
"It's gotten to be that way (Going, Going, Gone) What did you do today?"
now shes saying she has to always ask what did you do to day to make shure hes not cheating on her and she dosnt want it to be like that. hahaahahaha i may be so so far off but thats what i see in these lyrics, i like how they tell a story in most of there songs.
haaa k, i think that this song is about two people going out a girl and a boy, and the girl thinks that the boy is cheating on her
"I saw you turn your lights out I knew it wasnt right, I watched in fear and doubt"
saying shes watching his every move, and.....
"It's gotten to be that way (Going, Going, Gone) What did you do today?"
now shes saying she has to always ask what did you do to day to make shure hes not cheating on her and she dosnt want it to be like that. hahaahahaha i may be so so far off but thats what i see in these lyrics, i like how they tell a story in most of there songs.
I had only heard the Set Yourself on Fire album until I heard them live...this was one of my favourite of their live songs...so beautiful. Anyways.
I believe the first verse can be interpreted quite literally: as a girl who’s blinding herself to a harsh reality by feeding a materialistic urge in a repression. It could quite possibly be with her (ex?) boyfriend’s money, unknowing to him as a sort of revenge (sends you gently for the fall). The ‘cellophane’ refers to a conscious mask that is distorting the reality...that she’s become addicted to seeing her situation in a more favourable light than it actually is. Her compulsive shopping is nourishing her broken heart.
The chorus is most likely about his infidelity, as has been stated. Unsure as to whether they're actually still together.
Again with the cellophane at the end of the second verse, only it shows that the boyfriend has reverted to other methods of repressing his emotions, while also seeing a distorted reality created to be more pleasing to the eye. Enter alcohol! (You're still hooked on cellophane, killing time with gin and lime) He’s been broken and although there’s a good chance he cheated, he doesn’t believe in love (anymore?), and likely nor that he’s even capable of a thing.
There's a bit of my take on the song's meaning. I love Stars, they're so fabulous.
I liked lolol and kikaiyashin's interpretations. I'd been trying to figure it out for myself... and I mostly just figured it was about someone who was felt kind of lost and paranoid and alone.
I love this song. Emily Haines' voice is just beautiful, as usual. I love singing it =)
I think it's from the perspective of an ex-boyfriend. He is quite literally stalking his ex in the mall and seeing that she is buying a lot of stuff, including the red dress later mentioned, in order to ease the pain of the breakup.
It goes on to expose that although the new boyfriend may be happy the women herself is still troubled, jaded, and relatively unhappy with herself.
I agree, Emily Haines' voice is beautiful.
I'm sorry but um the two comments above me..Emily Haines isn't in this band. Amy Millan is the one that sings this song. Yes, Emily Haines does have a lovely voice, but she's not even in this band.