"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.
Lonely and restless
On the coldest of nights
With these thoughts on my mind
That keep pulling me down
I'm only fooling everyone else
So that everyone else
Turns their back, turns their back on me
So let go of these feelings that I'm keeping inside
And hold on, cause I'm feeling like I'm barely alive
Lay back as this pain takes over me
Broke down cause my head is spinning out of control
Nineteen years, and I've got nothing to show
We're only getting older now
[Chorus:]
This pain seems forgotten
But inside I'm rotting, I'm rotting
Thinking of all this time
Left to waste and die
The only thing i know for sure
Is I don't care anymore
And when I'm gone
Well I hope you'll have the strength to move on
Angy, but I'm told to not complain
Recluse, but I'm better off this way
This is not what I want
But I'll just bite my tongue
And now I'm hungry, but I'm too tired to eat
Tired, But I'm too hungry to sleep
We're only getting older now
[Chorus:]
And it hurts
Save me cause I'm drowning
(Give me more time)
I can't keep on drown
Feels like I'm blinded now
As they shut me out
But I'm trying to see
(Please make this stop)
This pain seems forgotten,
But inside I'm rotting, I'm rotting
Thinking of all this time
Left to waste and die
But I'm not gonna know what I'm doing here
What I'm doing here
So why can't you give me a sign?
(Give me a sign, give me a sign)
As I drown now
Swimming in an ocean of fear
My last regret is never knowing
Why I'm here (why I'm here)
On the coldest of nights
With these thoughts on my mind
That keep pulling me down
I'm only fooling everyone else
So that everyone else
Turns their back, turns their back on me
So let go of these feelings that I'm keeping inside
And hold on, cause I'm feeling like I'm barely alive
Lay back as this pain takes over me
Broke down cause my head is spinning out of control
Nineteen years, and I've got nothing to show
We're only getting older now
[Chorus:]
This pain seems forgotten
But inside I'm rotting, I'm rotting
Thinking of all this time
Left to waste and die
The only thing i know for sure
Is I don't care anymore
And when I'm gone
Well I hope you'll have the strength to move on
Angy, but I'm told to not complain
Recluse, but I'm better off this way
This is not what I want
But I'll just bite my tongue
And now I'm hungry, but I'm too tired to eat
Tired, But I'm too hungry to sleep
We're only getting older now
[Chorus:]
And it hurts
Save me cause I'm drowning
(Give me more time)
I can't keep on drown
Feels like I'm blinded now
As they shut me out
But I'm trying to see
(Please make this stop)
This pain seems forgotten,
But inside I'm rotting, I'm rotting
Thinking of all this time
Left to waste and die
But I'm not gonna know what I'm doing here
What I'm doing here
So why can't you give me a sign?
(Give me a sign, give me a sign)
As I drown now
Swimming in an ocean of fear
My last regret is never knowing
Why I'm here (why I'm here)
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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."
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,
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.
I think this song is aboutt a 19 year old who feels like his life is meaningless so he thinks about committing suicide.
This is pretttty much how i feel
i think that this song is about a person that his life is really fucked out and that he doesnt know why and then he is waiting for some1 to help him out
i feel like this song is less about suicide, and more about someone searching for purpose/help as he grows up.
I think it's less about suicide and more about being alone and wanting someone to care enough to save you. But you keep you mouth shut about it because you also don't really want them to know how much you're suffering. You feel like you haven't accomplished anything and have no idea what you're doing right now. It's a pretty strong song. Everyone feels a bit like this at some point in life.
And when I'm gone. Well I hope you have the strength to move on. Angry, but I'm told to not complain. Reckless, but I'm better off this way.
This part. its recluse not reckless.