"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.
Change my attempt, good intentions
Crouched over, you were not there, living in fear
But signs were not really that scarce, obvious tears
But I will not hide you through this, I want you to help them
Please see the bleeding heart perched on my shirt
Die, withdraw, hide in cold sweat, quivering lips
Ignore remorse, naming a kid, living wasteland
This time you've tried all that you can, turning you red
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I?
Could I?
Here we are with your obsession
Should I?
Could I?
Crowned, hopeless, the article read, "Living Wasteland"
This time you've tried all that you can, turning you red
But I will not hide you through this
I want you to help
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I?
Could I?
Here we are with your obsession
Should I?
Could I?
Heave the silver, hollow sliver
Piercing through another victim
Turn and tremble, be judgmental
Ignorant to all the symbols
Blind the face with beauty paste
Eventually, you'll one day know
Change my attempt, good intentions
Limbs tied
Skin tight
Self inflicted his perdition
Should I?
Could I?
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I?
Could I?
Should I?
Could I?
Crouched over, you were not there, living in fear
But signs were not really that scarce, obvious tears
But I will not hide you through this, I want you to help them
Please see the bleeding heart perched on my shirt
Die, withdraw, hide in cold sweat, quivering lips
Ignore remorse, naming a kid, living wasteland
This time you've tried all that you can, turning you red
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I?
Could I?
Here we are with your obsession
Should I?
Could I?
Crowned, hopeless, the article read, "Living Wasteland"
This time you've tried all that you can, turning you red
But I will not hide you through this
I want you to help
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I?
Could I?
Here we are with your obsession
Should I?
Could I?
Heave the silver, hollow sliver
Piercing through another victim
Turn and tremble, be judgmental
Ignorant to all the symbols
Blind the face with beauty paste
Eventually, you'll one day know
Change my attempt, good intentions
Limbs tied
Skin tight
Self inflicted his perdition
Should I?
Could I?
Change my attempt, good intentions
Should I?
Could I?
Should I?
Could I?
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
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 think this so is about war, in particular, this war we're in right now or the Vietnam war. i think it's about how on the TV, news, and internet we see pictures and articles of the horrib things going on, detah, war, destruction. Everyone tries to censor it, but the person singing is saying if you censor it how will they know what it's like out there? They won't take it seriously, and one day they'll find otu anyway, so what's the point in censoring it? So this guy is changing his mind about censorship for probably his child. hence the chorus "Change my attemt, good intentions, Should/could I?"