"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.
You say life is a dream where we can't say what we mean
Maybe just some roadside scene that we're driving past
There's no telling where we'll be in a day or in a week
And there's no promises of peace or of happiness
Well is this why you cling to every little thing
And polverize and derrange all your senses
Maybe life is a song but you're scared to song along
Until the very ending
Oh, it's time to let go of everything we used to know
Ideas that strengthen who we've been
It's time to cut ties that won't ever free our minds
From the chains and shackles that they're in
Oh, tell me what good is saying that you're free
In a dark and storming sea
You're chained to your history, you're surely sinking fast
You say that you know that the good Lord's in control
He's gonna bless and keep your tired and oh so restless soul
But at the end of the day when every price has been paid
You're gonna rise and sit beside him on some old seat of gold
And won't you tell me why you live like you're afraid to die
You'll die like you're afraid to go
Oh, it's time to let go of everything we used to know
Ideas that strengthen who we've been
It's time to cut ties that won't ever free our minds
From chains and shackles that they're in
From the chains and shackles that they're in
Well life is a dream 'cause we're all walking in our sleep
You could see us stand in lines like we're dead upon our feet
And we build our house of cards and then we wait for it to fall
Always forget how strange it is just to be alive at all
Maybe just some roadside scene that we're driving past
There's no telling where we'll be in a day or in a week
And there's no promises of peace or of happiness
Well is this why you cling to every little thing
And polverize and derrange all your senses
Maybe life is a song but you're scared to song along
Until the very ending
Oh, it's time to let go of everything we used to know
Ideas that strengthen who we've been
It's time to cut ties that won't ever free our minds
From the chains and shackles that they're in
Oh, tell me what good is saying that you're free
In a dark and storming sea
You're chained to your history, you're surely sinking fast
You say that you know that the good Lord's in control
He's gonna bless and keep your tired and oh so restless soul
But at the end of the day when every price has been paid
You're gonna rise and sit beside him on some old seat of gold
And won't you tell me why you live like you're afraid to die
You'll die like you're afraid to go
Oh, it's time to let go of everything we used to know
Ideas that strengthen who we've been
It's time to cut ties that won't ever free our minds
From chains and shackles that they're in
From the chains and shackles that they're in
Well life is a dream 'cause we're all walking in our sleep
You could see us stand in lines like we're dead upon our feet
And we build our house of cards and then we wait for it to fall
Always forget how strange it is just to be alive at all
Lyrics submitted by alyssawolf
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Is was the perfect choice to end the OC... Live the present moment, don't look back and don't be afraid of the future... Best part is the 5th stenza (imo)...
I think that this song captures the fear of life that most people have. nothing in life is certain "theres no telling where well be in a day or in a week" this inspires me because its so true to life. no one knows what will happen next so everyone should live for the now instead of dwelling on the past or obsessing about the future
we spend our entire lives living by so called 'faith' but it's often those who has this 'faith' that are most afraid of death, guess it's just asking, if you really believe there's life for you after, why the hell are you living like there isn't? why can't you let go of past moments and why can't you make the most of present moments, look forward to future ones.. live each day like it's your last on earth, not like it's your last ever,
I think Patrick Park is saying that life is a such a great oppt. but a lot of the times we are too scared to do or say what we want. A lot of times we go through life and we don't do what we really want. and if thats so then whats the point of freedom? But if we did life would be so much more of an expierence. Also he's saying that we can't completley rely on God to make our lives the best. If we want something we should go out and make it happen instead of regretting and holding back on our lives. God wont always make your life as special as you want to be if your not willing to live it.
i agree with everyone but mostly with blondelep since im a freshmen in university and that this songs reminds me of my high school memories and many things more... im a huge fan of the oc and i've heard patrick park's something pretty on the oc mix 2 and i loved it, its a great song, i recommend it to everyone but life is a song is definitely the best. the night the last episode of the oc aired in our country was 2days before my prom night so it suited me very well as my high school years were coming to an end, so as the OC. as i listen to it, everytime it gives me hope and faith but at the same time gives me a chill that i feel how i matured over time and that it reminds me of my highschool memories&experiences so i feel sad as well. But overall, i think its about moving on even though your ties with some ppl have become loose, being able to let go of the things occured in the past and trying to appreciate the little things in life. well, it means a lot and i cant stop myself listening to it like at least 3-4times whenever i click play :)
It's also about accepting change and embracing fluidity of personality, for the better or the worse, and is very much anti-materialism. It says that you should never be bound by anything, positive or negative, if it's inhibiting your freedom to do something you want.
I always thought this song was about moving on. Moving on with you life and expanding who you are and your entire life.
I love this song. I think its really saying that people aren't living their lives to their potential and that life is amazing and that we should make the most of it. Its a really sweet song I think.
This song is absolutely amazing. Park does some amazing work and isn't as celebrated as he should be. I was incredibly proud and happy to see him get the final song on the final episode of the OC last night.
People take far, far too much for granted. Celebrate the concept of being alive, of good health, of friends that love you.
i believe this song is saying we all take life for granted and just float through it and when its over its over so live it to the fullest. I'm sure this song is prob going to get alot of comments after last nights O.C. epi also