"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.
Sometimes
I get emotional
Sometimes
I do some stupid things
Sometimes
I say what I should just keep inside
Sometimes
I'm sad 'bout everything
Sometimes
I'm mad and break some things
Sorry times ten
But you just got in the way
Don't give up now
Running away
I won't hurt you
Sometimes I'm just a pain
And that's the way it is
That's just the way I am
Sometimes
I feel like crying
Laying down and dying
That's when I need you
Laughing's always easy
But sometimes
I'm just scared you'll leave me
That's when I feel
Emotional
You say I'm just impossible
Totally unpredictable
I'm just a girl
Get used to it
No big deal
You can't change me
Why would you try?
(Why would you try?)
(You know that I)
I'm no angel
But I can make you smile
And that's the way it is
That's just the way I am
Sometimes
I feel like crying
Laying down and dying
That's when I need you
Laughing's always easy
But sometimes
I'm just scared you'll leave me
That's when I feel
Emotional
(Don't give up)
Don't give up now
(Running away)
I won't hurt you
(I won't hurt you)
Sometimes I'm just a pain
And that's the way it is
That's just the way I am
(Sometimes I feel like crying)
(Laying down and dying)
That's when I need you
Laughing's always easy
But sometimes I'm just scared
You'll leave me
That's when I feel
(Feel you)
(Sometimes I feel like crying)
(Laying down and dying)
(That's when)
I feel you
Sometimes I get emotional
I get emotional
Sometimes
I do some stupid things
Sometimes
I say what I should just keep inside
Sometimes
I'm sad 'bout everything
Sometimes
I'm mad and break some things
Sorry times ten
But you just got in the way
Don't give up now
Running away
I won't hurt you
Sometimes I'm just a pain
And that's the way it is
That's just the way I am
Sometimes
I feel like crying
Laying down and dying
That's when I need you
Laughing's always easy
But sometimes
I'm just scared you'll leave me
That's when I feel
Emotional
You say I'm just impossible
Totally unpredictable
I'm just a girl
Get used to it
No big deal
You can't change me
Why would you try?
(Why would you try?)
(You know that I)
I'm no angel
But I can make you smile
And that's the way it is
That's just the way I am
Sometimes
I feel like crying
Laying down and dying
That's when I need you
Laughing's always easy
But sometimes
I'm just scared you'll leave me
That's when I feel
Emotional
(Don't give up)
Don't give up now
(Running away)
I won't hurt you
(I won't hurt you)
Sometimes I'm just a pain
And that's the way it is
That's just the way I am
(Sometimes I feel like crying)
(Laying down and dying)
That's when I need you
Laughing's always easy
But sometimes I'm just scared
You'll leave me
That's when I feel
(Feel you)
(Sometimes I feel like crying)
(Laying down and dying)
(That's when)
I feel you
Sometimes I get emotional
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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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
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.
Yea, I agree with the above. These emotions of her's arise out of fear of being alone so she lets it all out. When she gets like this she doesn't want her friends to run from her cuz that's when she needs them. Good song.