"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.
Well you're the closest thing, I have, to bring up in a conversation
About love that didn't last, but I could never call you mine
Cause I could never call myself yours, and if we were really meant to be
Well then we'd justify destiny, it's not that our love died it just never really bloomed
No I can't let go, no I can't let go of you
You're holding me back without even trying to
I can't let go, I can't move on from the past
Without lifting a finger you're holding me back
And then we saw our past, diverge, and I guess I felt okay about it
Until you got with another man, and then I couldn't understand
Why it bothered me so, no we didn't die we just never had a chance to grow.
I can't let go, no I can't let go of you
You're holding me back without even trying to
I can't let go, I can't move on from the past
Without lifting a finger you're holding me back
And it might not make sense
To you or any of my friends
But somehow still you affect the things I do
And you can't lose what you never had
I don't understand why I feel sad
Every time I see you out with someone new
I can't let go, no I can't let go no I can't let go of you
I can't let go, no I can't let go of you
You're holding me back without even trying to
I can't let go, I can't move on from the past
Without lifting a finger you're holding me back
I can't let go, no I can't let go of you
You're holding me back without even trying to
I can't let go, I can't move on from the past
Ooooooh
About love that didn't last, but I could never call you mine
Cause I could never call myself yours, and if we were really meant to be
Well then we'd justify destiny, it's not that our love died it just never really bloomed
No I can't let go, no I can't let go of you
You're holding me back without even trying to
I can't let go, I can't move on from the past
Without lifting a finger you're holding me back
And then we saw our past, diverge, and I guess I felt okay about it
Until you got with another man, and then I couldn't understand
Why it bothered me so, no we didn't die we just never had a chance to grow.
I can't let go, no I can't let go of you
You're holding me back without even trying to
I can't let go, I can't move on from the past
Without lifting a finger you're holding me back
And it might not make sense
To you or any of my friends
But somehow still you affect the things I do
And you can't lose what you never had
I don't understand why I feel sad
Every time I see you out with someone new
I can't let go, no I can't let go no I can't let go of you
I can't let go, no I can't let go of you
You're holding me back without even trying to
I can't let go, I can't move on from the past
Without lifting a finger you're holding me back
I can't let go, no I can't let go of you
You're holding me back without even trying to
I can't let go, I can't move on from the past
Ooooooh
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
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”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Wow. These lyrics eerily are almost exactly like what I went through earlier this year, mostly the first stanza part, though... now I want to hear the song...