"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.
Let me go I'm only letting you down
I got nothing to say to you now
Lose the feelings that are weighing me down
When I'm sane
It's turning morning all the birds sing
I'm not complicating anything
I'll have another and then I'll go to bed
And dream of you
Cause it's almost over
Yeah it's almost gone
I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love for you now
You and I used to shine like a jewel
But time's been nothing to us but cruel
So play it out and never play the fool
Cause you'll lose everytime
We were nothing,we were only the past
Hard times like that don't last
I've been forgiven,I've been surpassed
By my heart
Have you?
Cause it's almost over
Yeah it's almost gone
I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love
Love for you that I can't use
Lonely nights multiplied by the blues
I can't resolve
You never knew me but you did you're best
I'm just lonely inside I guess
You gave me everything you really tried
Thanks
If we are nothing and we're only the past
Well I'm just living in a dream I guess
A long black dream that takes me down the river to you
Where it's almost over
And it's almost gone
And I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
Sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love for you now
I got nothing to say to you now
Lose the feelings that are weighing me down
When I'm sane
It's turning morning all the birds sing
I'm not complicating anything
I'll have another and then I'll go to bed
And dream of you
Cause it's almost over
Yeah it's almost gone
I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love for you now
You and I used to shine like a jewel
But time's been nothing to us but cruel
So play it out and never play the fool
Cause you'll lose everytime
We were nothing,we were only the past
Hard times like that don't last
I've been forgiven,I've been surpassed
By my heart
Have you?
Cause it's almost over
Yeah it's almost gone
I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love
Love for you that I can't use
Lonely nights multiplied by the blues
I can't resolve
You never knew me but you did you're best
I'm just lonely inside I guess
You gave me everything you really tried
Thanks
If we are nothing and we're only the past
Well I'm just living in a dream I guess
A long black dream that takes me down the river to you
Where it's almost over
And it's almost gone
And I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
Sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love for you now
Lyrics submitted by Sum1LsesChpstck
Sweet Illusions Lyrics as written by Catherine Anne Popper Bradley Smith Pemberton
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
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:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
"Let me go, I'm only letting you down."
He feels like he wasn't good enough for her.
"I'll have another, then I'll go to bed."
He still loves her and he's drinking himself tired and then going to bed at night and dreaming of her. He obviously can't get her out of his mind.
"You and I used to shine like a jewel ..."
The relationship was all-encompassing and grand at one point, but it eventually soured, for whatever reason and that initial magic is no longer there ... but the love still is (at least on his part).
"We were nothing, we were only the past."
He's lying to himself here, saying that the relationship is done and over with and he's moving on. He's saying it's almost gone, but then admits he's confused and he still loves her. Seems he's trying to justify the end.
"You never knew me but I did my best I'm just lonely inside I guess You gave me everything You really tried, thanks If we were nothing and we're only the past Well I'm just living in a dream I guess"
That's pretty self-explanatory, to me. He finally, again, admits that the relationship couldn't have meant nothing and you can't just chalk it up to "lesson learned." He's obviously still lonely and thinks about her often.
Fucking amazing. Either this song or Cherry Lane is my life.
anyone who doesn't have respect for Ryan Adams is an idiot. like his music or not, you've GOT to say, he's a lyrical genius. i adore this song. probably the best "i am heartbroken and i totally give up" song ever.
LOVE IT!
AND I AINT GOT OTHONG BUT LOVR FOR YOU NOW!! one of THE best Ryan songs! its so poetic and the music is awesoome, well done the band!! tickets to his next show are a must! this song describes almost evey emotion, icant think of a heartfelt emotion that it doesit include, pure life. Listen and hum and fall in love with and connect to heartbreak and terror of what once was and what is, it's evertythong
this song is so good so deep what everyone feels at one time in their broken up relationships
Oh, I also want to add it sounds like his best wasn't good enough for her, but she tried to make it work.
"You never knew me but I did my best I'm just lonely inside I guess"
Man, what a line!