"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.
This attraction only to appearance
Becoming your religion looks are everything, the only thing that means something to you
Satisfaction only on the surface your eyes are always focused
Don't wanna let it show that there is no accept ion to the rule
So fill the empty space with another pretty face
Your skin deep skin deep
No one will ever be perfect in your eyes
Skin deep skin deep always scratching the surface for your prize
First impressions are over in an instant
You make your decision before you speak a word you end your search the page or any turn?
Every conquest filled with disappointment lacking any substance
now your out of words the lines are blur your never gonna learn
So fill the empty space with another pretty face
Skin deep skin deep no one will ever be perfect in your eyes
skin deep skin deep always scratching the surface for your prize [Repeat: x2]
Look all your life for beauty this fine
So rare, so hard to find
Look all your life for beauty this fine
No mind what's inside
Your skin deep skin deep no one will ever be perfect in your eyes
skin deep skin deep always scratching the surface for your prize [Repeat: x2]
Becoming your religion looks are everything, the only thing that means something to you
Satisfaction only on the surface your eyes are always focused
Don't wanna let it show that there is no accept ion to the rule
So fill the empty space with another pretty face
Your skin deep skin deep
No one will ever be perfect in your eyes
Skin deep skin deep always scratching the surface for your prize
First impressions are over in an instant
You make your decision before you speak a word you end your search the page or any turn?
Every conquest filled with disappointment lacking any substance
now your out of words the lines are blur your never gonna learn
So fill the empty space with another pretty face
Skin deep skin deep no one will ever be perfect in your eyes
skin deep skin deep always scratching the surface for your prize [Repeat: x2]
Look all your life for beauty this fine
So rare, so hard to find
Look all your life for beauty this fine
No mind what's inside
Your skin deep skin deep no one will ever be perfect in your eyes
skin deep skin deep always scratching the surface for your prize [Repeat: x2]
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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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/
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
It's quite clear it's about someone who looks for "love" strictly by physical characteristics. If someone isn't good-looking then they go, turn over another page. With my short experience with rock writing, I bet that the object of the song is a girl one of them knew and wanted to go out with but she always turned them down because they weren't hunks.