"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.
Faith full of holes
And Empty Promises
Are all that they had for you
Trade flesh and bone
For dirt all shit you Composes
To this world we commit you
This is not goodbye
This is just a kiss before you die
This is not goodbye
Take my hand and close your eyes
Now hold on
To everything
You thought that they had for you
Life Love
And eternal grace
I wont forget you
This is not goodbye
This is just a kiss before you die
This is not goodbye
Take my hand and close your eyes
And show me
Your not afraid
Show me
Show me
Your not afraid
And if I could
I would take all the pain
For you
You know if I could
I would take all the pain
For you
Pain for you
Close your eyes
Heres a kiss
Before you die
This is not goodbye
This is jut a kiss before you die
This is not goodbye
Take my hand and close your eyes
And show me
Your not afraid
Show me
Show me
And show me
Your not afraid
And Empty Promises
Are all that they had for you
Trade flesh and bone
For dirt all shit you Composes
To this world we commit you
This is not goodbye
This is just a kiss before you die
This is not goodbye
Take my hand and close your eyes
Now hold on
To everything
You thought that they had for you
Life Love
And eternal grace
I wont forget you
This is not goodbye
This is just a kiss before you die
This is not goodbye
Take my hand and close your eyes
And show me
Your not afraid
Show me
Show me
Your not afraid
And if I could
I would take all the pain
For you
You know if I could
I would take all the pain
For you
Pain for you
Close your eyes
Heres a kiss
Before you die
This is not goodbye
This is jut a kiss before you die
This is not goodbye
Take my hand and close your eyes
And show me
Your not afraid
Show me
Show me
And show me
Your not afraid
Lyrics submitted by xxxbleachxxx
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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.
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.
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.
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.
I cant wait for the new album. Their lyrics have improved alot.
this song reminds me of when i split wih the love of my life 5 months ago to come over to new zealand from england. a part of me died that day because everything in my life changed and it broke my heart.
One of the guy's brothers died of cancer, and it was about him.
kiwirachel ...err..what relavance does you soapy story have to do with this?
and yes mickwanny..you are corect about his brother dying of cancer
Yup yup and this song is fuckng awesome too!!
fuck ian you incharge of these comments or something??
You know what's hilarious? My current boyfriend showed me this song right after I had told him I planned or killing myself. Afterwards he realized what a stupid thing it was to show me this song and apologized like a madman it was so funny I totally forgot about how upset I was... lol. funny how things turn out isn't it?
Anyway I've been in love with this song ever since.
Cant wait for the new cd