"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 think you got me just where you want me?
We melt the records into something new
We got the new school and the plastic old school
Know what you're saying? We know it's untrue
Slip passed, you slippery liars, the way to new levels
You keep on diggin', we're gonna get you
You're like a worm inside the crystal apple
It's never real and neither are you
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
You slippery liars, the way to new levels
You keep on diggin', we're gonna get you
You're like a worm inside the crystal apple
It's never real and neither are you
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
It's about 11:30, 2 hours after I arrived there
And I went through a lot of tests and I discovered that
A lot of them never did catch on why I was there though
But I think they're getting suspicious
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
We melt the records into something new
We got the new school and the plastic old school
Know what you're saying? We know it's untrue
Slip passed, you slippery liars, the way to new levels
You keep on diggin', we're gonna get you
You're like a worm inside the crystal apple
It's never real and neither are you
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
You slippery liars, the way to new levels
You keep on diggin', we're gonna get you
You're like a worm inside the crystal apple
It's never real and neither are you
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
It's about 11:30, 2 hours after I arrived there
And I went through a lot of tests and I discovered that
A lot of them never did catch on why I was there though
But I think they're getting suspicious
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
I'll meet you downtown
He's in the underground
Don't make a sound
'Cause it's about to blow
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
hmmm.
makes me think too much. maybe i feel the lyrics represent the way that the music industry wont take notice of good music/bands until it explodes into popularity. about how music will be played "underground" for ages before it is realised by the masses and basically raped by commercial radio and becomes the new cool.