"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.
well I walked over the bridge
into the city where I live
and I saw my old landlord
well, we both said hello there was nowhere else to go
cause his rent I couldn’t afford
well relationships change though I think its kind of strange
how money makes a man grow
some people they claim if you get enough fame
you live over the rainbow
over the rainbow
but the people on the street out on buses or on feet
we all got the same blood flow
oh, in society every dollar got a deed
we all need a place where we can go
and feel over the rainbow
and sometimes we forget what we got
who we are,
and who we are not
I think we got a chance to make it right
keep it loose
keep it tight
keep it tight
I’m in love with a girl who’s in love with the world
and I can’t help but follow
though I know someday she is bound to go away
and stay over the rainbow
gotta learn how to let her go
over the rainbow
sometimes we forget who we got
who they are
and who they are not
there is so much more in love than black and white
keep it loose child
gotta keep it tight
keep it loose child
keep it tight
keep it tight
into the city where I live
and I saw my old landlord
well, we both said hello there was nowhere else to go
cause his rent I couldn’t afford
well relationships change though I think its kind of strange
how money makes a man grow
some people they claim if you get enough fame
you live over the rainbow
over the rainbow
but the people on the street out on buses or on feet
we all got the same blood flow
oh, in society every dollar got a deed
we all need a place where we can go
and feel over the rainbow
and sometimes we forget what we got
who we are,
and who we are not
I think we got a chance to make it right
keep it loose
keep it tight
keep it tight
I’m in love with a girl who’s in love with the world
and I can’t help but follow
though I know someday she is bound to go away
and stay over the rainbow
gotta learn how to let her go
over the rainbow
sometimes we forget who we got
who they are
and who they are not
there is so much more in love than black and white
keep it loose child
gotta keep it tight
keep it loose child
keep it tight
keep it tight
Lyrics submitted by talkies
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
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.
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.
oh my GOD i love amos lee, i'm gonna go buy all his cds. "i'm in love with a girl who's in love with the world..."