"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.
Hey now what you doing
Don't go down the road to ruin
Look back at where you came from
Count to ten before you go wrong
You had the brightest future
Writing songs on your computer
But you couldn't walk that extra mile
And now your life is running wild
You've gotta hold your head up high
You know it's not too late to try
You've gotta lift that heavy load
You've gotta get back in control
The things you say to me
What is it that your eyes see
Is it love or is it hate
Banging on an open gate
Hey now, who's that with you
What's that thing I saw him give you
Turn round don't come no closer
You took it from my shoulder holster
You've gotta hold your head up high
You know it's not too late to try
You've gotta lift that heavy load
You've gotta get back in control
You've gotta hold your head up high
You know it's not too late to try
You've gotta lift that heavy load
You've gotta get back in control
Why don't you put that gun right down
Before you kill the love you found
Hey now what you doing (what you doing)
Don't go down the road to ruin
Don't go down the road to ruin
Look back at where you came from
Count to ten before you go wrong
You had the brightest future
Writing songs on your computer
But you couldn't walk that extra mile
And now your life is running wild
You've gotta hold your head up high
You know it's not too late to try
You've gotta lift that heavy load
You've gotta get back in control
The things you say to me
What is it that your eyes see
Is it love or is it hate
Banging on an open gate
Hey now, who's that with you
What's that thing I saw him give you
Turn round don't come no closer
You took it from my shoulder holster
You've gotta hold your head up high
You know it's not too late to try
You've gotta lift that heavy load
You've gotta get back in control
You've gotta hold your head up high
You know it's not too late to try
You've gotta lift that heavy load
You've gotta get back in control
Why don't you put that gun right down
Before you kill the love you found
Hey now what you doing (what you doing)
Don't go down the road to ruin
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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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This song should've been chosen as a single. With it's infinitely catchy, upbeat verse and refrain.