"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.
This pavement feels cold on my face
And my bones have seen better days
Be a friend, pick me up off the ground
Nice and easy, oooh
I got a scar, you can see it from afar
Like cigarette burns on the top of my guitar
If you wish me luck, don't tell me to break a leg
I coulda been walking on a peg
And at the end of the day I will return to the city of lakes
Where the real people roam close to where all the real waves break
I got a girl, she got lots of style
You can see every tooth in her mouth when she smiles
She's prettier than you, and you, and you
Yeah, she's prettier than you
I got a dream, I hope that it comes true
And if it don't, don't know what I'm gonna do
I got a dream, I got a dream
And at the end of the day I will return to the city of lakes
Where the real people roam close to where all the real waves break
I lost a friend here in this past year
I miss his guitar playing in my ear
Be a friend, take away all my fears
Nice and easy, nice and easy, nice and easy
And my bones have seen better days
Be a friend, pick me up off the ground
Nice and easy, oooh
I got a scar, you can see it from afar
Like cigarette burns on the top of my guitar
If you wish me luck, don't tell me to break a leg
I coulda been walking on a peg
And at the end of the day I will return to the city of lakes
Where the real people roam close to where all the real waves break
I got a girl, she got lots of style
You can see every tooth in her mouth when she smiles
She's prettier than you, and you, and you
Yeah, she's prettier than you
I got a dream, I hope that it comes true
And if it don't, don't know what I'm gonna do
I got a dream, I got a dream
And at the end of the day I will return to the city of lakes
Where the real people roam close to where all the real waves break
I lost a friend here in this past year
I miss his guitar playing in my ear
Be a friend, take away all my fears
Nice and easy, nice and easy, nice and easy
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental 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.
my cousin's in El Torpedo..