"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.
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
(Who!)
I'm sick of watching my mouth with everybody looking at me
I'm sick of wasting my time, this city offers nothing to me
No good for me,
No good for you
You walk away
I'll see it through
Don't turn your back, it's not alright
We're out tonight, but'cha you want to
'cause we see the world through bloodshot eyes
And we can't decide, who's on our side
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
'cause you see the world through bloodshot eyes
And ya can't decide who's on your side
I'm sick of working all week for people I cannot stand
I'm sick of holding it in, the action's in the palm of my hand
No good for you,
No good for me
A wasted life, you can't break free
Don't turn your back, it's not alright
We're out tonight, don'tcha want to
I see the world through bloodshot eyes
But'cha can't decide, who's on your side
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Can you see the world through different eyes?
Still can't decide who's on my side
Everybody's screamin' baby
Everybody's screamin' baby
Everybody's screamin' baby
Everybody's screamin' yeah
'cause we see the world through bloodshot eyes
And we can't decide, who's on our side
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
(Whoo!)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet)
(Whoa, whoa)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
(Who!)
I'm sick of watching my mouth with everybody looking at me
I'm sick of wasting my time, this city offers nothing to me
No good for me,
No good for you
You walk away
I'll see it through
Don't turn your back, it's not alright
We're out tonight, but'cha you want to
'cause we see the world through bloodshot eyes
And we can't decide, who's on our side
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
'cause you see the world through bloodshot eyes
And ya can't decide who's on your side
I'm sick of working all week for people I cannot stand
I'm sick of holding it in, the action's in the palm of my hand
No good for you,
No good for me
A wasted life, you can't break free
Don't turn your back, it's not alright
We're out tonight, don'tcha want to
I see the world through bloodshot eyes
But'cha can't decide, who's on your side
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Can you see the world through different eyes?
Still can't decide who's on my side
Everybody's screamin' baby
Everybody's screamin' baby
Everybody's screamin' baby
Everybody's screamin' yeah
'cause we see the world through bloodshot eyes
And we can't decide, who's on our side
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
(Whoo!)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet)
Everybody's screamin', we're only bleedin'
(It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet)
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Little Feat
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
i can relate to this song. i fucking hate my job and always having to watch what I say!