"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.
I never wanted to love you, but that's okay
I always knew that you'd leave me anyway
But darling when I see you, you see me
I asked the boys if they'd let me go out and play
They always said that you'd hurt me anyway
But darling when I see you, I see me
And it's alright
I never thought I'd fall in love again
It's alright
I look to you as my only friend
It's alright
I never thought that I could feel there's something
Rising, rising in my veins
Looks like it's happened again
I never thought that you wanted for me to stay
So I left you with the girls that came your way
And darling when I see you I see me
I often thought that you'd be better off left alone
Well throw a circle round a man with broken bones
But darling when I see you, I see me
It's alright
I never thought I'd fall in love again
It's alright
I look to you as my only friend
It's alright
I never thought that I could feel there's something
Rising, rising in my veins
Looks like it's happened again
You always looked like you had something else on your mind
When I try to tell you, you tell me "nevermind"
But darling when I see you, you see me
I wanna tell you that I never loved anyone else
You wanna tell me that you're better off by yourself
But darling when I see you, you see me
Oooh, oo-oo-oooh
This is not what I'm like, this is not what I do
This is not what I'm like, I think I'm falling for you
This is not what I'm like, this is not what I do
This is not what I'm like, I think I'm falling for you
(repeat)
I never thought
This is not what I'm like, this is not what I do
I never thought
This is not what I'm like, I think I'm falling for you
(repeat)
I never thought that I could feel there's something
Rising, rising in my veins
And it looks like I feel there's something
Rising, rising in my veins
Looks like it's happened again
I always knew that you'd leave me anyway
But darling when I see you, you see me
I asked the boys if they'd let me go out and play
They always said that you'd hurt me anyway
But darling when I see you, I see me
And it's alright
I never thought I'd fall in love again
It's alright
I look to you as my only friend
It's alright
I never thought that I could feel there's something
Rising, rising in my veins
Looks like it's happened again
I never thought that you wanted for me to stay
So I left you with the girls that came your way
And darling when I see you I see me
I often thought that you'd be better off left alone
Well throw a circle round a man with broken bones
But darling when I see you, I see me
It's alright
I never thought I'd fall in love again
It's alright
I look to you as my only friend
It's alright
I never thought that I could feel there's something
Rising, rising in my veins
Looks like it's happened again
You always looked like you had something else on your mind
When I try to tell you, you tell me "nevermind"
But darling when I see you, you see me
I wanna tell you that I never loved anyone else
You wanna tell me that you're better off by yourself
But darling when I see you, you see me
Oooh, oo-oo-oooh
This is not what I'm like, this is not what I do
This is not what I'm like, I think I'm falling for you
This is not what I'm like, this is not what I do
This is not what I'm like, I think I'm falling for you
(repeat)
I never thought
This is not what I'm like, this is not what I do
I never thought
This is not what I'm like, I think I'm falling for you
(repeat)
I never thought that I could feel there's something
Rising, rising in my veins
And it looks like I feel there's something
Rising, rising in my veins
Looks like it's happened again
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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/
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.
actually, I get the opposite reaction. Maybe I am seeing through the veil of optomism but I see it as two friends who are simultaneously beginning to wonder exactly who they are to each other. Each person has been hurt in romance before "I often thought that you’d be better off left alone, Well throw a circle round a man with broken bones" and neither are eager to take that risk again. Also as a result of the previous hurt both are overcautious and constantly second guessing how the other feel about them. Neither want to be in that vulnerable state again and have therefore hardened and become more cynical. "This is not what I’m like; this not what I do. This is not what I’m like; I think I’m falling for you. " Also both are at the point where they' re getting ready to say how they feel but just can't bring themselves to do it. Well for what it's worth that's my take on it.
I thought it was about two people falling in love, but not expecting to
It's a nice take on the song and the nice music would have you believe that it was about a friendship turning into romance but i don't think it is, i agree with aj more. Two people who are kinda both cheats who wouldn't usually fall in love. they fall for each other. and have a rocky relationship. But can never truly part. I like listening to a song with another persons interpretation in mind, i can see where celestra is coming from.
the video to this song is cool, doesn't stop you believing your own version of the songmeaning like alot of crap videos do.
It's a nice take on the song and the nice music would have you believe that it was about a friendship turning into romance but i don't think it is, i agree with aj more. Two people who are kinda both cheats who wouldn't usually fall in love. they fall for each other. and have a rocky relationship. But can never truly part. I like listening to a song with another persons interpretation in mind, i can see where celestra is coming from.
the video to this song is cool, doesn't stop you believing your own version of the songmeaning like alot of crap videos do.
Such a beautiful song!
I've got to agree with celestra. There is a lot of optimism in the song.
To me this song is about understanding and misunderstanding - two friends trying to contemplate falling in love with one another. They've been hurt - they are unsure about trusting another with feelings - but they see they can be happy together- and for once feel real love.
"I never thought that I would feel this something, Rising, rising in my veins..."
Let's not be so cynical guys! Just enjoy it - especially the female vocal..........wow..............
Hmm i think it's about 2 people who have previously split up, and have been on/off friends since and are now starting to fall in love with each other again.
A person was hurt by love, they never thought they would recover but they have...they go on to feel love again but they never forget that one person who was their true love. when its true love you will always love them even when u move on.
I think it's about two friends, who support each other through all their relationships but secretly all the time want each other, but don't know it and then they realise that the feeling is mutual, and how much the other means to them.
I think it is about two people realising how much they love each other, I remember looking at my ex when we were still together and thinking I see myself in him, "when I see you I see me", we were so of one mine and together it felt like at that time were part of the same piece.
I hated this band but my bro bought the album and forced me to listen to it all. anyway as soon as i heard this song and realised it wasnt all cheesy backing vocals and that some of it was meaningful and deep i ws hooked.