"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.
Up so early, feel so bright
I didn't get much sleep last night
A freight train rattled through my head
Whistle blowing', love is dead
Is dead
Heart attacked by fear and doubt
Won't be long 'til the truth comes out
First impressions never lie
Lover's bonds they hold so fast
Restless future burnin' bright
The past is holdin' on so tight
I never heard the warnin' bell
And I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
Welcome swallows dip and swing
Take their cue from the slightest thing
Rollin' fog into my room
Why'd you give up on me so soon?
So soon
Restless future burnin' bright
The past is holding on so tight
I never heard the warnin' bell
And I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
Why'd you give up on me so soon?
Why'd you give up on me so soon?
I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
I didn't get much sleep last night
A freight train rattled through my head
Whistle blowing', love is dead
Is dead
Heart attacked by fear and doubt
Won't be long 'til the truth comes out
First impressions never lie
Lover's bonds they hold so fast
Restless future burnin' bright
The past is holdin' on so tight
I never heard the warnin' bell
And I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
Welcome swallows dip and swing
Take their cue from the slightest thing
Rollin' fog into my room
Why'd you give up on me so soon?
So soon
Restless future burnin' bright
The past is holding on so tight
I never heard the warnin' bell
And I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
Why'd you give up on me so soon?
Why'd you give up on me so soon?
I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
Lyrics submitted by drownedinsound
Wish You Well Lyrics as written by Bernard Joseph Fanning
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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The Night We Met
Lord Huron
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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/
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.
haha yer, I'm surprised no-one else has commented either.
Me thinks this song is about a girl (aren't most..? j/k)
Maybe Bernard was going through an uncertain time, and all things came to a head at the same time ( a breakup, career taking a new and uncertain path, poss. when he decided to go solo) and the song is about the girl bailing just when he needed the support. Perhaps it was a bad breakup, and she didn't want to have anything to do with Bernard, but he still wants to be freinds, or something.... there is a definite trace of lingering feelings ("Lovers' bonds they hold so fast" and the "I just want to wish you well" could allude to still having feelings for someone)
Just some thoughts. It is a very beautiful song, and for me it means still having feelings for an ex-lover that doesn't want anything to do with you.
@Pollux a reply 18 years later, absurd🤣<br /> I found your thoughts on the song meaning reasonable, the line -Welcome SWALLOWS DIP AND SWING was what brought me to this page, Swallows represent love and companionship <br /> On Bernard’s song “Songbird” he says <br /> SONGBIRD you got tales to tell , how many times can you describe your living hell?<br /> The SWEEPING GESTURE creates a fuss.<br /> <br /> The reference of a chatty bird in both songs supports what you suggested about a girl a partner maybe it was a pet name for her. Anyhows Happy new brother-rock on
I thought I heard it was about a break up with his ex-wife. Very beautiful song.
maybe it's because I'm jaded (my mom says I am, I don't think so, but I'm not sure you're supposed to know that about yourself) but "I just want to wish you well" seems sarcastic to me.
Can't believe noone commented on this beautiful piece of music-making! Bernard is awesome in Powderfinger but his solo stuff is even better! (Well not better but you get me). Wish You Well ROCKS MY SOCKS! Don't know what it's about though...anyone care to help out??
Great song. Deserved winner of the 05/06 hottest 100.
New Zealanders hate Australians!? That's a new one on me... I'll have to steer clear of all the New Zealanders I'm FRIENDS with then.
Best break up song ever. Love Bernard Fanning and love this song.
it is ruined by how much radio stations overplay it
Some people just dont know talent when they hear it....
They wouldnt know it if it walked right up to them, introduced itself and then pinched them...
bkat004, if that is true then why did you even bother to comment on this song? Or was it to get attention...
Best. Break-up song. Ever. Refreshingly positive!