"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.
If you leave early, no one's coming out to get you
Once you're gone, we'll forget you were here, and there
I get up early, make a list and go on back to bed to dream
You're slicing up my face
You like my hair and that's all that matters
It's too early, bed of hands
Still we can't fall asleep too long
And forget why we're here
Not over there
It's not crazy anymore, every bus ride's such a bore
I miss that shiny downtown whore, that I was before
It's not crazy anymore, every bus ride's such a bore
I miss that shiny downtown whore, that I was before
Oh misery, what did I have if you didn't have me?
Oh misery, who can you move when you can't touch me?
Oh misery, who do you love if you didn't love me?
It's not crazy anymore, every bus ride's such a bore
I miss that shiny downtown whore, that I was before
(Try me, I'm really not a whore)
It's not crazy anymore, every bus ride's such a bore
I miss that shiny downtown whore, that I was before
It's not crazy anymore
Once you're gone, we'll forget you were here, and there
I get up early, make a list and go on back to bed to dream
You're slicing up my face
You like my hair and that's all that matters
It's too early, bed of hands
Still we can't fall asleep too long
And forget why we're here
Not over there
It's not crazy anymore, every bus ride's such a bore
I miss that shiny downtown whore, that I was before
It's not crazy anymore, every bus ride's such a bore
I miss that shiny downtown whore, that I was before
Oh misery, what did I have if you didn't have me?
Oh misery, who can you move when you can't touch me?
Oh misery, who do you love if you didn't love me?
It's not crazy anymore, every bus ride's such a bore
I miss that shiny downtown whore, that I was before
(Try me, I'm really not a whore)
It's not crazy anymore, every bus ride's such a bore
I miss that shiny downtown whore, that I was before
It's not crazy anymore
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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Ive never been good with interpretations, but. I think Emily's saying that everything today is so policed and your limited in everything you do, and everything is regulated in some sense. I think she misses the days where people had a higher sense of freedom and could be more individual without someone telling them theyre wrong for doing so.