"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.
Once upon a day was just something you used to say
Like the never ending compromise to the life you couldn't find
And you wait and try to forget about the illogical mind
As you sit there broken
"Can't you see, it was not, wasn't me
It was just someone that I used, and used to be"
But now it's gone and I think that it's time
To just move on and forget about the lies
Now we try a little harder, it's the best we can do
And I'll try to talk some more if you just try to talk some too
Because I'm just not here on my own
You wouldn't be arguing me with me if you just didn't care
And I care, and I care, and I care, and I wish that I didn't care
Because then there'd be nothing left to keep me here
Oh my oh my, what have I done this time?
There's no blood on me but I bleed
The blood on you was just something that happened at the time
It was not a choice
It was just a fine
And it's just not fine
It is just not fine
It is just...
Like the never ending compromise to the life you couldn't find
And you wait and try to forget about the illogical mind
As you sit there broken
"Can't you see, it was not, wasn't me
It was just someone that I used, and used to be"
But now it's gone and I think that it's time
To just move on and forget about the lies
Now we try a little harder, it's the best we can do
And I'll try to talk some more if you just try to talk some too
Because I'm just not here on my own
You wouldn't be arguing me with me if you just didn't care
And I care, and I care, and I care, and I wish that I didn't care
Because then there'd be nothing left to keep me here
Oh my oh my, what have I done this time?
There's no blood on me but I bleed
The blood on you was just something that happened at the time
It was not a choice
It was just a fine
And it's just not fine
It is just not fine
It is just...
Lyrics submitted by workinprogress
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
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.
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.
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.
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.