"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.
Come away,
Teach me, sweetheart.
Come on past,
Brave young bachelors.
I'm alone,
Teach me, sweetheart.
My mother-in-law was standing by the stove
Hissing like a snake, hissing like a snake,
Hissing like a snake.
She gave orders to spill my blood,
She gave orders
To spill my blood, I thought.
I thought, I thought, and I thought some more.
Come away,
Teach me sweetheart.
Come on past,
Brave young bachelors.
I'm alone,
Teach me, sweetheart.
My father-in-law was lying on his bed
Growling like a dog, growling like a dog,
Growling like a dog.
He gave orders to spill my blood,
He gave orders
To spill my blood, I thought.
I thought, I thought, and I thought some more.
Come away,
Teach me sweetheart.
Come on past,
Brave young bachelors.
I'm alone,
Teach me, sweetheart.
My sister-in-law was sitting on her stoop
Cawing like a crow, cawing like a crow,
Cawing like a crow.
She gave orders to spill my blood,
She gave orders
To spill my blood, I thought.
I thought, I thought, and I thought some more.
Come away,
Teach me sweetheart.
Come on past,
Brave young bachelors.
I'm alone,
Teach me, sweetheart.
My brother-in-law was leaning on the love-seat
Tapping with his tail, tapping with his tail,
Purring like a cat.
He gave orders to spill my blood,
He gave orders
To spill my blood, I thought.
Teach me, sweetheart.
Come on past,
Brave young bachelors.
I'm alone,
Teach me, sweetheart.
My mother-in-law was standing by the stove
Hissing like a snake, hissing like a snake,
Hissing like a snake.
She gave orders to spill my blood,
She gave orders
To spill my blood, I thought.
I thought, I thought, and I thought some more.
Come away,
Teach me sweetheart.
Come on past,
Brave young bachelors.
I'm alone,
Teach me, sweetheart.
My father-in-law was lying on his bed
Growling like a dog, growling like a dog,
Growling like a dog.
He gave orders to spill my blood,
He gave orders
To spill my blood, I thought.
I thought, I thought, and I thought some more.
Come away,
Teach me sweetheart.
Come on past,
Brave young bachelors.
I'm alone,
Teach me, sweetheart.
My sister-in-law was sitting on her stoop
Cawing like a crow, cawing like a crow,
Cawing like a crow.
She gave orders to spill my blood,
She gave orders
To spill my blood, I thought.
I thought, I thought, and I thought some more.
Come away,
Teach me sweetheart.
Come on past,
Brave young bachelors.
I'm alone,
Teach me, sweetheart.
My brother-in-law was leaning on the love-seat
Tapping with his tail, tapping with his tail,
Purring like a cat.
He gave orders to spill my blood,
He gave orders
To spill my blood, I thought.
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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.
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,
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.
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.
i am the first comment on this wonderous song?! i feel so special! I dont really have an interpretation for this song, i just truly believe that it is beautiful and powerful.
Difficulties of ones inlawes caused by the death of your loved one...
this is such an interesting song. i really like it. alot. i have a theory on the meaning but i wouldn't want to ruin things. its just interesting and kind of disturbing but beautiful.
I love this song so much. I think it's a simple Cinderella story. Pretty girl v wicked step-family. It's written so well though. I love the animal similes for each step-member.