"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 play this game so well
So well in fact that they can tell
But we're on to you (lets go)
Cause your act is nothing new
And we can see right through it now
But that gets old, we're warning you
[Chorus:]
So if you (swallow your pride)
Should decide to (spill your insides)
Take your time, find your spine
I swear you'll be just fine
If your backbone should find its way home
Through the whole above your neck (is where the trap is set)
You look so obvious, predictable,
And some day your games will catch up to you
So obvious,
And we all know
That some day your games will catch up to
(right now)
You thought I'd fall for your lies
You thought I'd cut off all ties
And if we'd regret this we'd we dead
You show me yours, I'll show you mine
You know sincerity grows in time
Sing it with me if you can
[Chorus]
So if you (swallow your pride)
Should decide to (spill your insides)
Take your time, find your spine
I swear you'll be just fine
If your backbone should find its way home
Through the whole above your neck (is where the trap is set)
You look so obvious...predictable..
And some day your games will catch up to you
So obvious...
And we all know
That some day your games will catch up
So cut the apologies in your wrist
And the guilt trip from fingertips
I'm on to you, we're on to you
Now wear this excuse around your neck
I'll kick the chair out from your legs
I'm on to you, we're on to you
You look so obvious, predictable,
And some day your games will catch up to you
So obvious,
And we all know
That some day your games will catch up,
Right now
So well in fact that they can tell
But we're on to you (lets go)
Cause your act is nothing new
And we can see right through it now
But that gets old, we're warning you
[Chorus:]
So if you (swallow your pride)
Should decide to (spill your insides)
Take your time, find your spine
I swear you'll be just fine
If your backbone should find its way home
Through the whole above your neck (is where the trap is set)
You look so obvious, predictable,
And some day your games will catch up to you
So obvious,
And we all know
That some day your games will catch up to
(right now)
You thought I'd fall for your lies
You thought I'd cut off all ties
And if we'd regret this we'd we dead
You show me yours, I'll show you mine
You know sincerity grows in time
Sing it with me if you can
[Chorus]
So if you (swallow your pride)
Should decide to (spill your insides)
Take your time, find your spine
I swear you'll be just fine
If your backbone should find its way home
Through the whole above your neck (is where the trap is set)
You look so obvious...predictable..
And some day your games will catch up to you
So obvious...
And we all know
That some day your games will catch up
So cut the apologies in your wrist
And the guilt trip from fingertips
I'm on to you, we're on to you
Now wear this excuse around your neck
I'll kick the chair out from your legs
I'm on to you, we're on to you
You look so obvious, predictable,
And some day your games will catch up to you
So obvious,
And we all know
That some day your games will catch up,
Right now
Lyrics submitted by heartattack
These Backs Are Made for Stabbing Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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Fast Car
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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:
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Page
Ed Sheeran
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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.
Just looked it up and it's in reference to TAI's song In Our Defense on the first EP. It's in the last verse of the song:
Show a litte backbone. In this hole we've dug, you're never crawling out alive. You won't make it too far, you won't get too far. In this home we've made, you're never welcome again. You wont make it too far. Place your bets son, pay your ransom. You don't know what it is to regret.