"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 don't want me but I don't care
I'm independent when there's no one there
I'm not a substitute and it's wearing thin
Why can't you see that I won't give in
There's a rumor how can it be true
The way that people talk it's as if they knew
And though I try I hope you understand
If I'm alone with you it could get out of hand
Please don't make me wait
In front of you
Love comes too late
We're in a spin
Confused within
It must be fate
Love comes too late
I believe it was meant to be
But when you threw me out I guess it made me see
It would be a drag from my point of view
That's the kind of thing that I'd expect from you
What can I do I'll never be the same
Another day without you would drive me insane
It's a real life drama that I can't work out
Don't think about it let me take you out
Please don't make me wait
In front of you
Love comes too late
We're in a spin
Confused within
It must be fate
Love comes too late
I'm independent when there's no one there
I'm not a substitute and it's wearing thin
Why can't you see that I won't give in
There's a rumor how can it be true
The way that people talk it's as if they knew
And though I try I hope you understand
If I'm alone with you it could get out of hand
Please don't make me wait
In front of you
Love comes too late
We're in a spin
Confused within
It must be fate
Love comes too late
I believe it was meant to be
But when you threw me out I guess it made me see
It would be a drag from my point of view
That's the kind of thing that I'd expect from you
What can I do I'll never be the same
Another day without you would drive me insane
It's a real life drama that I can't work out
Don't think about it let me take you out
Please don't make me wait
In front of you
Love comes too late
We're in a spin
Confused within
It must be fate
Love comes too late
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This song represents life in an emotional state of limbo where one is unsure of what's going to happen next; prominent at the end of common relationships. She or he pretends to be strong and independent – ignoring the pain, suffering and pulling through discomfort. One week after break-up or so, rumors fly around but one is left with denial instead. Suck it up. One will ask "What to they know about us?". They know more than what you think.
Things only get worse as time unfurls. I believe that Bernard explains that waiting in front of someone, asking to be loved is unbearable, especially when the other party doesn't feel the same way. Things will change, don't expect anything to be the same... someone will hurt the other and sadly that's how it goes.
P.s. If you're reading this... I think you know who you are... I still remember what you told me about this song and how I made you go through that then. I'm sorry.