"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.
My white knight rode away
With his sword in his side
And a crown of thorns on his head
My guardian angel has forgotten how to fly
Says his wings feel like lead.
In hindsight I know everything was wrong
I'll fix it every night inside my head
I'll fix it every night until I'm dead
But you are gone
You are gone
My white knight rode away
With his sword in his side
And no one caught me when I fell
Or comforted me when I cried
I care so much but my apathy grows every day
I can't express my empathy for everyone
In any other way
I guess it meant a lot to me
I guess that it could never be
I guess I took you for a friend and not an enemy
I guess it meant a lot to me
I guess that it could never be
I guess I took you for more than you meant yourself to be
I feel alone
I am alone
I've always been
Alone
You are gone
With his sword in his side
And a crown of thorns on his head
My guardian angel has forgotten how to fly
Says his wings feel like lead.
In hindsight I know everything was wrong
I'll fix it every night inside my head
I'll fix it every night until I'm dead
But you are gone
You are gone
My white knight rode away
With his sword in his side
And no one caught me when I fell
Or comforted me when I cried
I care so much but my apathy grows every day
I can't express my empathy for everyone
In any other way
I guess it meant a lot to me
I guess that it could never be
I guess I took you for a friend and not an enemy
I guess it meant a lot to me
I guess that it could never be
I guess I took you for more than you meant yourself to be
I feel alone
I am alone
I've always been
Alone
You are gone
Lyrics submitted by Nonny
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
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
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.
Michal wrote this song for her sister's dance partner. He was gay and contracted AIDs, but rather than tell his father how it happened, he committed suicide by jumping off of a building. The song was meant to commemorate his life. She likes to believe he died trying to fly.