"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.
I put on that sweater you gave me
I woke up in the kitchen a few minutes later
I didn't know how I had gotten there
Did you guide me
I didn't make it to your funeral
I didn't want ritual nor resign
I just wanted to hold hands with
J.P and Mary-Jo
But I couldn't conjure tears
We're too good for stupid angels
Blackness held its breath beside me
And burned the air till it was gone
Till it was gone
Till it was gone
Couldn't pay my respects to a dead man
Your life was much more to me
And I chased away with sticks and stones
But that rage kept following me
Following Me
Following Me
So lost I was asleep in the palms of your hand
In dreams we were happy and safe
I can't comprehend the ways that I miss you
They come to light in my mistakes
In my mistakes
In my mistakes
Now I'm traveling down Tacoma Way
And the world turns in slow motion
It's the twilight of our old home
And I'm still in love with you
Oh here on South Tacoma Way
We've memories for matinees
And the tears come warm and heavy
And the cross streets bear your name
And the cross streets bear your name
I woke up in the kitchen a few minutes later
I didn't know how I had gotten there
Did you guide me
I didn't make it to your funeral
I didn't want ritual nor resign
I just wanted to hold hands with
J.P and Mary-Jo
But I couldn't conjure tears
We're too good for stupid angels
Blackness held its breath beside me
And burned the air till it was gone
Till it was gone
Till it was gone
Couldn't pay my respects to a dead man
Your life was much more to me
And I chased away with sticks and stones
But that rage kept following me
Following Me
Following Me
So lost I was asleep in the palms of your hand
In dreams we were happy and safe
I can't comprehend the ways that I miss you
They come to light in my mistakes
In my mistakes
In my mistakes
Now I'm traveling down Tacoma Way
And the world turns in slow motion
It's the twilight of our old home
And I'm still in love with you
Oh here on South Tacoma Way
We've memories for matinees
And the tears come warm and heavy
And the cross streets bear your name
And the cross streets bear your name
Lyrics submitted by delial, edited by smallwonderrobot, stealthissound
South Tacoma Way Lyrics as written by Joel Trueblood Brian Connelly
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
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@[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.
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Page
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Such a heartbreaking song. IMO, her best.
I always get the sense that this is from the perspective of a former love of the deceased, someone who's never gotten over him and now can't make sense of his death.