"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.
hold on they're murderin' up if you gotta bust a cap then aim it up
if you religious praise it up if you gotta get high then blaze it up
for the ones that never gave it up take a champagne glass and raise it
up
verse 1:
again it was the feelin when I saw his blood spillin
poppin' lip takin over his tip is why he had to kill him
now his body's in chalk and no longer can talk so then a life is lost
somebody tricked off and the killer is caught so now his life is cost
you might get caught so to make a move these motherfuckers are
petrified
on the best to try so when we slide so first bless the rest that died
is it a test of pride when inside you pull the trigger but you didn't
want to pull it
could it be a motherfucker on the other side of the bullet
should it matter naw, you figure Ima waste 'em just a murder for the
nation
for some hemmed up, locked up, broke up for felonies and other overly
motherly abrasion
now in front of of me encased in a coffin is a body with people around
sad and froze
tears drop like rain but people didn't feel the pain till the casket
closed
now the drastic shows and mother threw a frown even when the gunner
was found
'cause it seems like yesterday he was runnin around now he under the
gruond
'cause the gunner get down in these streets even though you pack a piece
for heat niggaz urgin' to bust
the game ain't the same so stay away from the curb if you out there
servin' them up and
chorus:
hold on they're murderin up if you gotta bust a cap them aim it up
if you religious priase it up, if you gotta get high then blaze it up
for the ones who never gave it up take a Champagne glass and raise it
up
make a toast to yourself for survivin in a world that's so corrupt
(repeat)
verse:
again it was the feelin when I saw his blood pourin'
tragedy mess a man look in the mirror and then I see stud mournin'
as the streets erases others, it encase a brother
you had enough heart to waste this brother but can you face his mother
I was faced with other types of problems that had held me back
couldn't tell me jack now I'm gone in my own zone but you didn't have
to tell me that
so come trail me back to a time when a motherfucker had lost his will
to survive
me and my folks had to rob and steal for a meal he'd had to kill to
survive
I remember when you had my back when the relative passed and my mother
cried
when the house caught flames you collapsed in my arms when you heard
that your father died
I take drama in stride I don't have to go through a thang to get myself
together
see for yourself but the worst is gone so its on till the roamin' have
his shelter
but if they end up back on the streets again and I have to receive my
fate
smoke weed at the wake so the pain and hate escapes to keep the kids
straight
'cause you did straight if your seed succeed 'cause they keep learnin, and
keep growin up
right now survivin' in a place that's full of doubt and about to
self-destruct
chorus
visualize in invisible eyes how I individualize
critical cries of pitiful skies that rain pain upon the ghettoland
where the unforgettable dies
subliminal lies means no motherfucker never gon make it if he knew
people to keep it in check soon
womb to the tomb death is in the next room if a nigga don't realize
the k's infects doom
lets assume anotha brotha want to laugh at you I think he just coulda
blasted you
you inhabit you killed them now the trigga tried to kick it but his
niggaz comin after you
tellin you its strange of us be crazy steppin to a motherfucker that's
dangerous
'cause its a gang of us throwin knuckles in a scuffle if we have two
thangs to bust
cocaine to us and my brains to dust I represent you up there so I try
as long as my enemy bust but soon to be crushed I don't really give a
fuck if I die so I lie
my people should be glad to survive in the land of the lost
its plan of the bos leavin motherfuckers dyin with their grandmothers
hand on the cross
so I take a stand when I talk, ran instead of walk to chalk up another
victory
how you did the caper hid the paper breaking other niggaz off is a
mystery
with the chemicals and drugs all of these criminals and thugs just
keep comin' up
better watch yourself 'cause there ain't no love in the streets of a
world that's corrupt
chorus
if you religious praise it up if you gotta get high then blaze it up
for the ones that never gave it up take a champagne glass and raise it
up
verse 1:
again it was the feelin when I saw his blood spillin
poppin' lip takin over his tip is why he had to kill him
now his body's in chalk and no longer can talk so then a life is lost
somebody tricked off and the killer is caught so now his life is cost
you might get caught so to make a move these motherfuckers are
petrified
on the best to try so when we slide so first bless the rest that died
is it a test of pride when inside you pull the trigger but you didn't
want to pull it
could it be a motherfucker on the other side of the bullet
should it matter naw, you figure Ima waste 'em just a murder for the
nation
for some hemmed up, locked up, broke up for felonies and other overly
motherly abrasion
now in front of of me encased in a coffin is a body with people around
sad and froze
tears drop like rain but people didn't feel the pain till the casket
closed
now the drastic shows and mother threw a frown even when the gunner
was found
'cause it seems like yesterday he was runnin around now he under the
gruond
'cause the gunner get down in these streets even though you pack a piece
for heat niggaz urgin' to bust
the game ain't the same so stay away from the curb if you out there
servin' them up and
chorus:
hold on they're murderin up if you gotta bust a cap them aim it up
if you religious priase it up, if you gotta get high then blaze it up
for the ones who never gave it up take a Champagne glass and raise it
up
make a toast to yourself for survivin in a world that's so corrupt
(repeat)
verse:
again it was the feelin when I saw his blood pourin'
tragedy mess a man look in the mirror and then I see stud mournin'
as the streets erases others, it encase a brother
you had enough heart to waste this brother but can you face his mother
I was faced with other types of problems that had held me back
couldn't tell me jack now I'm gone in my own zone but you didn't have
to tell me that
so come trail me back to a time when a motherfucker had lost his will
to survive
me and my folks had to rob and steal for a meal he'd had to kill to
survive
I remember when you had my back when the relative passed and my mother
cried
when the house caught flames you collapsed in my arms when you heard
that your father died
I take drama in stride I don't have to go through a thang to get myself
together
see for yourself but the worst is gone so its on till the roamin' have
his shelter
but if they end up back on the streets again and I have to receive my
fate
smoke weed at the wake so the pain and hate escapes to keep the kids
straight
'cause you did straight if your seed succeed 'cause they keep learnin, and
keep growin up
right now survivin' in a place that's full of doubt and about to
self-destruct
chorus
visualize in invisible eyes how I individualize
critical cries of pitiful skies that rain pain upon the ghettoland
where the unforgettable dies
subliminal lies means no motherfucker never gon make it if he knew
people to keep it in check soon
womb to the tomb death is in the next room if a nigga don't realize
the k's infects doom
lets assume anotha brotha want to laugh at you I think he just coulda
blasted you
you inhabit you killed them now the trigga tried to kick it but his
niggaz comin after you
tellin you its strange of us be crazy steppin to a motherfucker that's
dangerous
'cause its a gang of us throwin knuckles in a scuffle if we have two
thangs to bust
cocaine to us and my brains to dust I represent you up there so I try
as long as my enemy bust but soon to be crushed I don't really give a
fuck if I die so I lie
my people should be glad to survive in the land of the lost
its plan of the bos leavin motherfuckers dyin with their grandmothers
hand on the cross
so I take a stand when I talk, ran instead of walk to chalk up another
victory
how you did the caper hid the paper breaking other niggaz off is a
mystery
with the chemicals and drugs all of these criminals and thugs just
keep comin' up
better watch yourself 'cause there ain't no love in the streets of a
world that's corrupt
chorus
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
Korrupt World Lyrics as written by Samuel C. Lindley Carl Terrell Mitchell
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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."
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.