"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 relate through the bloodline
When you can never take anything that I give
Always wanting to relate through me
I go watch you slowly slip away
You're wanting to put your trust in
When I can see this remedy kickin on
Just to taste it, just to want it
And I can me say it's not my fault
Say it's alright
When i'm coming down
Not again it's so lifelike
Come make it alright
When I'm coming down
Not again I'm fragile
Would you choose me or just abuse me?
When I can never take anything that you give
Always wanting to relate through me
I go watch you slowly slip away
You're wanting to put your trust in
When I can see this remedy kickin on
Just to taste it, just to want it
And I can me say it's not my fault
Say it's alright
When i'm coming down
Not again it's so lifelike
Come make it alright
When I'm coming down
Not again I'm fragile
You see I'll be the one in your darkest time
Should I begin to erase myself?
I'm caught in this picture of you
Should I begin to assess myself?
Tell me it's over
It comes from above with these feelings
It takes you away and it buries your soul again
Your now blessed by ignorance
'cause you want to
So run with me if you must follow
I'll take you away to this place where we can be free
A place I call ecstasy
Now you lie alone
Your chance to stop and stare
God, I kiss your bones
And say it's not my fault
Say it's alright
When I'm coming down
Not again it's so lifelike
Come make it alright
When i'm coming down
Not again i'm fragile
Well you say it's alright
When i'm coming down
Not again it's so lifelike
Come make it alright
When i'm coming down
Not again i'm fragile
When you can never take anything that I give
Always wanting to relate through me
I go watch you slowly slip away
You're wanting to put your trust in
When I can see this remedy kickin on
Just to taste it, just to want it
And I can me say it's not my fault
Say it's alright
When i'm coming down
Not again it's so lifelike
Come make it alright
When I'm coming down
Not again I'm fragile
Would you choose me or just abuse me?
When I can never take anything that you give
Always wanting to relate through me
I go watch you slowly slip away
You're wanting to put your trust in
When I can see this remedy kickin on
Just to taste it, just to want it
And I can me say it's not my fault
Say it's alright
When i'm coming down
Not again it's so lifelike
Come make it alright
When I'm coming down
Not again I'm fragile
You see I'll be the one in your darkest time
Should I begin to erase myself?
I'm caught in this picture of you
Should I begin to assess myself?
Tell me it's over
It comes from above with these feelings
It takes you away and it buries your soul again
Your now blessed by ignorance
'cause you want to
So run with me if you must follow
I'll take you away to this place where we can be free
A place I call ecstasy
Now you lie alone
Your chance to stop and stare
God, I kiss your bones
And say it's not my fault
Say it's alright
When I'm coming down
Not again it's so lifelike
Come make it alright
When i'm coming down
Not again i'm fragile
Well you say it's alright
When i'm coming down
Not again it's so lifelike
Come make it alright
When i'm coming down
Not again i'm fragile
Lyrics submitted by MiniMaggit_6
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
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.
yeah well it seems to be about ecstasy and coming down after a pill not again its so lifelike seems to be saying he doesnt want to come back to the real world (because everything is so great on ecstasy)