"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.
Do you dream
That the world will know your name
So tell me your name
And do you care
About all the little things
Or anything at all
I want to feel
All the chemicals inside
I said I want to feel
I want a sunburn
Just to know that I'm alive
Just to know I'm alive
I want to live live
Just to see the day
When we all can get along
I want to scream
Scream my song out loud
So everyone could hear
Do you believe
In the day that you were born
Tell me do you believe
And do you know
That every day's the first
Of the rest of your life
Chorus
And ohh don't tell me if I'm dying
'Cause I don't want to know
If I can't see the sun
Maybe I should go
Don't wake me 'cause I'm dreaming
Of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know
Never leaves too soon
And you know the pain
That brought you here today
So what can you do
And you know the tears
For losing those you love
When yesterday is gone
So please remember
Not to waste another day
Not to worry your mind
And please forgive me
For taking so much time
To get back on my feet
Chrous
And I'll fight it out
'Cause I know I can
And I'll sleep tight
When you're not here
Oh no
I wont surrender
This is to one last day in the shadows
And to know a brother's love
This is to New York City angels
And the rivers of our blood
This is to all of us
This is to all of us
Don't tell me if I'm dying
'Cause I don't want to know
If I can't see the sun
Maybe I should go
Don't wake me 'cause I'm dreaming
Of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know
Never leaves too soon
Don't tell me if I'm dying
'Cause I don't want to know
If I can't see the sun
Maybe I should go
Don't wake me 'cause I'm dreaming
Of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know
Never leaves too soon
And don't tell me if I'm dying, no
Don't tell me if I'm dying
Don't tell me if I'm dying
That the world will know your name
So tell me your name
And do you care
About all the little things
Or anything at all
I want to feel
All the chemicals inside
I said I want to feel
I want a sunburn
Just to know that I'm alive
Just to know I'm alive
I want to live live
Just to see the day
When we all can get along
I want to scream
Scream my song out loud
So everyone could hear
Do you believe
In the day that you were born
Tell me do you believe
And do you know
That every day's the first
Of the rest of your life
Chorus
And ohh don't tell me if I'm dying
'Cause I don't want to know
If I can't see the sun
Maybe I should go
Don't wake me 'cause I'm dreaming
Of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know
Never leaves too soon
And you know the pain
That brought you here today
So what can you do
And you know the tears
For losing those you love
When yesterday is gone
So please remember
Not to waste another day
Not to worry your mind
And please forgive me
For taking so much time
To get back on my feet
Chrous
And I'll fight it out
'Cause I know I can
And I'll sleep tight
When you're not here
Oh no
I wont surrender
This is to one last day in the shadows
And to know a brother's love
This is to New York City angels
And the rivers of our blood
This is to all of us
This is to all of us
Don't tell me if I'm dying
'Cause I don't want to know
If I can't see the sun
Maybe I should go
Don't wake me 'cause I'm dreaming
Of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know
Never leaves too soon
Don't tell me if I'm dying
'Cause I don't want to know
If I can't see the sun
Maybe I should go
Don't wake me 'cause I'm dreaming
Of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know
Never leaves too soon
And don't tell me if I'm dying, no
Don't tell me if I'm dying
Don't tell me if I'm dying
Lyrics submitted by risefromtheashes
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
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
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.
It about feeling alive with someone very special and being glad you could have had that:
Know your n ame So tell me you r name And do you care About all the little things Or anyt
hing at all I want to feel All the chemicals inside I said I want to feel I want a sunbu rn Just to know that I'm alive Just to know I'm alive I want to live live Just to see the day When we all can g et along I want to scream Scream my song out loud So everyone could hear Do you believe In the day that you were born Tell me do you believe And do you know That every day's the first Of the rest of your life