"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.
In the morning when you start your day, do you feel yourself quite lost?
In a world of countless millions, on the tide of your life you're tossed
Don't think you're getting nowhere, you know we all must start
From very small beginnings, off to a better part.
In the rush and hustle of your day, when all of your world seems mad
Do you look at everything you see, and know that it's not so bad?
Just take your time and work it out, you know what's in your mind
From very small beginnings, off to a better time.
Take your time and work it out, then maybe you'll see
You're not wasting your time going 'round
Just acting a play, you're finding your way
You're making it pay, you're making today.
In the darkness of a brand new day, when everything's hushed and still
Can you look at everything you see, and know that it's all worthwhile?
The dark of night is fading, back creeping up's the sun
It starts from small beginnings, full spreads to everyone.
Take your time and work it out, then maybe you'll see
You're not wasting your time going 'round
Just acting a play, you're finding your way
You're making it pay, you're making today.
In the darkness of a brand new day, when everything's hushed and still
You can look around at everything you see, and know that it's all worthwhile?
The dark of night is fading, back creeping up's the sun
It starts from small beginnings, full spreads to everyone.
In the morning when you start your day
In the morning when you start your day
In the morning when you start your day
In the morning when you start your day, do you feel yourself quite lost?
In a world of countless millions, on the tide of your life you're tossed
Don't think you're getting nowhere, you know we all must start
From very small beginnings, off to a better part.
Do, do, do, do do do
Do, do, do, do do do
Do, do, do, do do do
Do, do, do
In a world of countless millions, on the tide of your life you're tossed
Don't think you're getting nowhere, you know we all must start
From very small beginnings, off to a better part.
In the rush and hustle of your day, when all of your world seems mad
Do you look at everything you see, and know that it's not so bad?
Just take your time and work it out, you know what's in your mind
From very small beginnings, off to a better time.
Take your time and work it out, then maybe you'll see
You're not wasting your time going 'round
Just acting a play, you're finding your way
You're making it pay, you're making today.
In the darkness of a brand new day, when everything's hushed and still
Can you look at everything you see, and know that it's all worthwhile?
The dark of night is fading, back creeping up's the sun
It starts from small beginnings, full spreads to everyone.
Take your time and work it out, then maybe you'll see
You're not wasting your time going 'round
Just acting a play, you're finding your way
You're making it pay, you're making today.
In the darkness of a brand new day, when everything's hushed and still
You can look around at everything you see, and know that it's all worthwhile?
The dark of night is fading, back creeping up's the sun
It starts from small beginnings, full spreads to everyone.
In the morning when you start your day
In the morning when you start your day
In the morning when you start your day
In the morning when you start your day, do you feel yourself quite lost?
In a world of countless millions, on the tide of your life you're tossed
Don't think you're getting nowhere, you know we all must start
From very small beginnings, off to a better part.
Do, do, do, do do do
Do, do, do, do do do
Do, do, do, do do do
Do, do, do
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.
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.
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.