"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.
You put a bullet in my head
Turned black thoughts to red
This could all end in tragedy
I dream of your death
Lay you down to rest
I won't look back in fond memory
But time marches on like a soldier
Are you a killer? Oh, I think I know what you are
A thief in the night
And though it's taken me so very long
To figure you out
You're throwing stones, your glass castle is falling down
On top of your good times
I'm not interested in working this out
You put a bullet in my head
Turned black thoughts to red
This could all end in tragedy
And that's what you are
A sad plastic fucking mess
Don't come to me with how your tired, used up and
Just barely getting by
Because I would walk on by and not even
Not even kick you when you're down
Though you would deserve it
Because you are lower than
The lowest dog
But this is the part where I say
Goodbye
And let the sands of time
Blow over us
Say goodbye
And let the sands of time
Blow over us
You've never had to crawl
You've never had to see
What it feels like to be so trapped underneath
The weight of someone's world
Comes crashing down on me
I was longing to be free
I put the bullet in you and me
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
Turned black thoughts to red
This could all end in tragedy
I dream of your death
Lay you down to rest
I won't look back in fond memory
But time marches on like a soldier
Are you a killer? Oh, I think I know what you are
A thief in the night
And though it's taken me so very long
To figure you out
You're throwing stones, your glass castle is falling down
On top of your good times
I'm not interested in working this out
You put a bullet in my head
Turned black thoughts to red
This could all end in tragedy
And that's what you are
A sad plastic fucking mess
Don't come to me with how your tired, used up and
Just barely getting by
Because I would walk on by and not even
Not even kick you when you're down
Though you would deserve it
Because you are lower than
The lowest dog
But this is the part where I say
Goodbye
And let the sands of time
Blow over us
Say goodbye
And let the sands of time
Blow over us
You've never had to crawl
You've never had to see
What it feels like to be so trapped underneath
The weight of someone's world
Comes crashing down on me
I was longing to be free
I put the bullet in you and me
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
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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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
their last song on their last album that actually means something. No offense, I love Atreyu, but this is too good to top, and they must have realized that, which is why they started making shitty music.