"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.
See that big blue note
Over there on the counter
You don't wanna read that thing, man
It's a real get-you-downer
But don't you dare say nothin' else bad about her
She's gone
No, no, no, no, no, don't, don't throw it away
'Cause tonight I might need it
It gets real lonely around here at night sometimes
And I have to reread it
Besides, you show it to the boys downtown
They won't believe that
She's gone
There used to be a time I was all she ever wanted
All the man that she'll ever need
I come home to find just like that, she's up and vanished
And the only thing she left behind for me
Is this big blue note folded up in my pocket
Yeah, don't laugh, it's been two months
I still got it
Sometimes I have to read the sucker twice
Just to make sure I ain't forgot that
She's gone
You know, my psychiatrist said
"Tell me what do you see
When you look at these ink spots
Of uh, reds and yellows and greens" you know
I looked at 'em all but they all looked to me like
Big blue notes
There used to be a time I was all she ever wanted
All the man that she'll ever need
I come home to find just like that, she's up and vanished
And the only thing she left behind for me
Is stand high on this cliff overlookin' the sea
With my big blue note paper airplane that I just set free
And I'ma wait here a few more minutes
And if it don't come back to me, huh
You guessed it, she's gone
Crash landin'
Bye-bye, baby
Over there on the counter
You don't wanna read that thing, man
It's a real get-you-downer
But don't you dare say nothin' else bad about her
She's gone
No, no, no, no, no, don't, don't throw it away
'Cause tonight I might need it
It gets real lonely around here at night sometimes
And I have to reread it
Besides, you show it to the boys downtown
They won't believe that
She's gone
There used to be a time I was all she ever wanted
All the man that she'll ever need
I come home to find just like that, she's up and vanished
And the only thing she left behind for me
Is this big blue note folded up in my pocket
Yeah, don't laugh, it's been two months
I still got it
Sometimes I have to read the sucker twice
Just to make sure I ain't forgot that
She's gone
You know, my psychiatrist said
"Tell me what do you see
When you look at these ink spots
Of uh, reds and yellows and greens" you know
I looked at 'em all but they all looked to me like
Big blue notes
There used to be a time I was all she ever wanted
All the man that she'll ever need
I come home to find just like that, she's up and vanished
And the only thing she left behind for me
Is stand high on this cliff overlookin' the sea
With my big blue note paper airplane that I just set free
And I'ma wait here a few more minutes
And if it don't come back to me, huh
You guessed it, she's gone
Crash landin'
Bye-bye, baby
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
This song means exactly what it says. Kinda cute how he still loved her though.