"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.
Listen doctor I have pain that grows inside myself
Shelf me please, I just can't ease the pain, I need some drugs to help
Ah pollution fills my lungs and convolution fills my mind
Ah my legs do ache, I contemplate that living's less than fine
My spine does tingle when I think of being freed from this curse
But what is worse I feel life is a bubble blown until it's burst
Oh doctor I am desperate to get rid of this feeling
Oh doctor I am desperate for some good soul healing
The doctor turned and gave a grin and reached into his bag
But instead of an injection got a record with a tag
That said listen to this daily with hip shaking and such things
Then he puts the record in grabs a mic and starts to sing
You need some -
One four five
To make you high to make you high
To make you high to make you high
When heaven falling from the sky
To make you high to make you high
Doctor I am feeling better, what was that you sang?
Did you write it or recite it or just steal it from a band?
Ah my bones are feeling stronger and my spirit's feeling fresh
Ah that dose of 145 has put the life back in my breath
'yes yes yes' the doctor said then he sat me down and say
'young man don't think I wrote these chords,
they're written in your brain'
and when you hear them there's a shakedown that begins within the mind
‘Cause these three chords make people feeling better all the time ah
They keep repeating like a scratch on a cd
But it's quality ‘cause these three harmonies breed positivity
Protecting against insanity of modern insecurities
Believe me when I tell you all you need is to be hearing all that
One four five
To make you high to make you high
To make you high to make you high
When they said what and you said why
To make you high to make you high
The doctor turned and gave a grin and reached into his bag
But instead of an injection got a record with a tag
That said listen to this daily with hip shaking and such things
Then he puts the record in grabs a mic and starts to sing
You need some -
One four five
To make you high to make you high
When you could not count to pi
When you're told you can't fly
To make you high to make you high
Times like these you need some
One four five
Shelf me please, I just can't ease the pain, I need some drugs to help
Ah pollution fills my lungs and convolution fills my mind
Ah my legs do ache, I contemplate that living's less than fine
My spine does tingle when I think of being freed from this curse
But what is worse I feel life is a bubble blown until it's burst
Oh doctor I am desperate to get rid of this feeling
Oh doctor I am desperate for some good soul healing
The doctor turned and gave a grin and reached into his bag
But instead of an injection got a record with a tag
That said listen to this daily with hip shaking and such things
Then he puts the record in grabs a mic and starts to sing
You need some -
One four five
To make you high to make you high
To make you high to make you high
When heaven falling from the sky
To make you high to make you high
Doctor I am feeling better, what was that you sang?
Did you write it or recite it or just steal it from a band?
Ah my bones are feeling stronger and my spirit's feeling fresh
Ah that dose of 145 has put the life back in my breath
'yes yes yes' the doctor said then he sat me down and say
'young man don't think I wrote these chords,
they're written in your brain'
and when you hear them there's a shakedown that begins within the mind
‘Cause these three chords make people feeling better all the time ah
They keep repeating like a scratch on a cd
But it's quality ‘cause these three harmonies breed positivity
Protecting against insanity of modern insecurities
Believe me when I tell you all you need is to be hearing all that
One four five
To make you high to make you high
To make you high to make you high
When they said what and you said why
To make you high to make you high
The doctor turned and gave a grin and reached into his bag
But instead of an injection got a record with a tag
That said listen to this daily with hip shaking and such things
Then he puts the record in grabs a mic and starts to sing
You need some -
One four five
To make you high to make you high
When you could not count to pi
When you're told you can't fly
To make you high to make you high
Times like these you need some
One four five
Lyrics submitted by -Amz-
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
very very awesome song.. amazingly funky, great to dance to, fantastic live..