"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.
Exactly how you hear it, is exactly how it all went down?
It was later in the evening
That the facts and the figures got turned around
True, there was a woman
Yes, she did advance my way
And I can't be sure exactly but I swear I saw her say my name
It was the right time
She was the real thing
I had to walk away
(See) Don't wanna be, stitched up out of my mind
Feeling strung out, laggin' behind
All trapped in, can't do a thing because I?m
Locked down
Stitched up, feeling the burn
All strung out, I finally learn that
Trapped in, can?t do a thing because I'm
Locked down
I wonder where she came from
I wonder where she's gotta go
Who's to say she's single
And who's to say she?s on her own
Girls like that don?t sleep alone
(Alright here's the thing, here's the thing)
That girl is flawless, and I know I?m not the first one to think that
And since I'm not the first, I sure won?t be the last
I'd spend my whole life looking behind my back
I just don?t think I?m up to that
Stitched up, out of my mind
Feeling strung out, laggin? behind
All trapped in, can?t do a thing because I?m
Locked down
Stitched up, feeling the burn
All strung out, I finally learn that
Trapped in you can?t do a thing because you?re
Locked down
Stitched up, out of my mind
Feeling strung out, laggin' behind
All trapped in, I can't do a thing because I'm
Locked down
Stitched up, feeling the burn
All strung out, I finally learn that
Trapped in you can?t do a thing because you're
Locked down
Locked down
Stitch me up, string me out
Trap me in, lock me down
Stitch me up, string me out
Trap me in, lock me down
I don't wanna be
Stitch me up, string me out
Trap me in, lock me down
Stitch me up, string me out
Trap me in, lock me down
Because I'm down and down and down (Ooo)
It was later in the evening
That the facts and the figures got turned around
True, there was a woman
Yes, she did advance my way
And I can't be sure exactly but I swear I saw her say my name
It was the right time
She was the real thing
I had to walk away
(See) Don't wanna be, stitched up out of my mind
Feeling strung out, laggin' behind
All trapped in, can't do a thing because I?m
Locked down
Stitched up, feeling the burn
All strung out, I finally learn that
Trapped in, can?t do a thing because I'm
Locked down
I wonder where she came from
I wonder where she's gotta go
Who's to say she's single
And who's to say she?s on her own
Girls like that don?t sleep alone
(Alright here's the thing, here's the thing)
That girl is flawless, and I know I?m not the first one to think that
And since I'm not the first, I sure won?t be the last
I'd spend my whole life looking behind my back
I just don?t think I?m up to that
Stitched up, out of my mind
Feeling strung out, laggin? behind
All trapped in, can?t do a thing because I?m
Locked down
Stitched up, feeling the burn
All strung out, I finally learn that
Trapped in you can?t do a thing because you?re
Locked down
Stitched up, out of my mind
Feeling strung out, laggin' behind
All trapped in, I can't do a thing because I'm
Locked down
Stitched up, feeling the burn
All strung out, I finally learn that
Trapped in you can?t do a thing because you're
Locked down
Locked down
Stitch me up, string me out
Trap me in, lock me down
Stitch me up, string me out
Trap me in, lock me down
I don't wanna be
Stitch me up, string me out
Trap me in, lock me down
Stitch me up, string me out
Trap me in, lock me down
Because I'm down and down and down (Ooo)
Lyrics submitted by stoolhardy
Stitched Up Lyrics as written by John Mayer Herbie Hancock
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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In the beginning of the song, it seems as if he doesn't want to be in a relationship, as he says, "Don't wanna be stitched up." However, as the song progresses, it seems that he doesn't want to miss the opportunity to be with this woman of interest because he may always look back to her as being the ideal woman. The chorus then changes to say he is "stitched up." And by the closing of the song, he's begging to be stitched up. He's still conflicted, but insists that he's down to be trapped in with her.