"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.
Does anybody here remember
Barrington Hall?
Does anybody here remember
Barrington?
They're happy in the night
And lethargic in the day
The people that live in
Barrington Hall
It gave him quite the fright
When wrine ferret came his way
And he nearly lost his mind
Here in Barrington Hall
Just when I had thought
I'd seen it all
I stumbled 'round the corner
Into Barrington Hall
Does anybody here remember
Barrington Hall?
Does anybody here remember
Barrington?
The folks are full of smiles
As you're gazing at the walls
And the pictures draw you into the heart of
Barrington Hall
The stairs are rather big
While the room's extremely small
And smells are really interesting
At Barrington Hall
They drink up all the wine
Some opiate the time
No hands are free from grime
Here at Barrington Hall
They care not wrong from night
They electrocute the night
And it's always quite a sight
Down at Barrington Hall
And just when I had thought
I'd seen it all
I stumbled 'round the corner
Into Barrington Hall
Does anybody here remember
Barrington Hall?
Any recollection of Barrington?
Barrington Hall?
Does anybody here remember
Barrington?
They're happy in the night
And lethargic in the day
The people that live in
Barrington Hall
It gave him quite the fright
When wrine ferret came his way
And he nearly lost his mind
Here in Barrington Hall
Just when I had thought
I'd seen it all
I stumbled 'round the corner
Into Barrington Hall
Does anybody here remember
Barrington Hall?
Does anybody here remember
Barrington?
The folks are full of smiles
As you're gazing at the walls
And the pictures draw you into the heart of
Barrington Hall
The stairs are rather big
While the room's extremely small
And smells are really interesting
At Barrington Hall
They drink up all the wine
Some opiate the time
No hands are free from grime
Here at Barrington Hall
They care not wrong from night
They electrocute the night
And it's always quite a sight
Down at Barrington Hall
And just when I had thought
I'd seen it all
I stumbled 'round the corner
Into Barrington Hall
Does anybody here remember
Barrington Hall?
Any recollection of Barrington?
Lyrics submitted by BWIdrummerTAG
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
when les claypool went to berkley, there was a dorm called barrington hall, which was known for its drugs and wild parties...that's all i know.