"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.
Checkmate, pull the plug on a fake
And it's never too late
Got to take them, break them down
One testifies, see the fire in his eyes
Speak the tongue of the ghost
When the warrior cries that sound
Spirit flips, soul spits
Meditate on the words from the king's lips
Apocalyptic, Psalm scripted, prophet's eye
Armageddon come quick
It's the death wish of a white witch
So come inside and I'll tell you where the beast live
Come inside and I'll tell you where the beast live
Mark my words
Swords raise, fire rush through your veins
Going to bring the pain, you can see it's going down
Frontline, nobody left behind
Rebel soul, let them know when it's time
You better hold your ground
Regulate, interrogate
Cause the enemies loose
And he's out for the take
On a "no faith", leaving no trace
Another one took by a known hate
It's your death wish from a white witch
So come inside and I'll tell you where the beast live
Come inside and I'll tell you where the beast live
Mark my words
Who's got that witch?
Mark my words
And it's never too late
Got to take them, break them down
One testifies, see the fire in his eyes
Speak the tongue of the ghost
When the warrior cries that sound
Spirit flips, soul spits
Meditate on the words from the king's lips
Apocalyptic, Psalm scripted, prophet's eye
Armageddon come quick
It's the death wish of a white witch
So come inside and I'll tell you where the beast live
Come inside and I'll tell you where the beast live
Mark my words
Swords raise, fire rush through your veins
Going to bring the pain, you can see it's going down
Frontline, nobody left behind
Rebel soul, let them know when it's time
You better hold your ground
Regulate, interrogate
Cause the enemies loose
And he's out for the take
On a "no faith", leaving no trace
Another one took by a known hate
It's your death wish from a white witch
So come inside and I'll tell you where the beast live
Come inside and I'll tell you where the beast live
Mark my words
Who's got that witch?
Mark my words
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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.
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.
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.
SERIOUSLY? you left out one of the best parts of the songs in the lull after "whos got that witch" in a really cool low dramatic voice: "Be not far from me , for trouble is near, and there is none to help." (psalm 22:11 Btw)