"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.
You better run
You better run
You better run and run and run
You better run
You better run
You better run and run and run and run and run
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
Oh, when you stand before the Father
In a state of shame
Because your robes are covered in mud
When you kneel at the feet
Of a woman of the street
The gutters will run with blood
They will run with blood
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
In the days of madness
My brother, my sister
When you're dragged toward the Hell-mouth
You will beg for the end
But there ain't gonna be one, friend
For the grave will spew you out
It will spew you out
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You'll be working in the darkness
Against your fellow man
And you'll find you're called to come forth
So you'll scrub and you'll scrub
Hey but the trouble is, Bob
The blood it won't wash off
No, it won't come off
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
When you stand before the Father
In a state of shame
Because your robes are covered in mud
When you kneel at the feet
Of some harlot off the street
The gutters will run with blood
They will run with blood
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run and run and run and run and run
You better run
You better run and run and run
You better run
You better run
You better run and run and run and run and run
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
Oh, when you stand before the Father
In a state of shame
Because your robes are covered in mud
When you kneel at the feet
Of a woman of the street
The gutters will run with blood
They will run with blood
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
In the days of madness
My brother, my sister
When you're dragged toward the Hell-mouth
You will beg for the end
But there ain't gonna be one, friend
For the grave will spew you out
It will spew you out
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You'll be working in the darkness
Against your fellow man
And you'll find you're called to come forth
So you'll scrub and you'll scrub
Hey but the trouble is, Bob
The blood it won't wash off
No, it won't come off
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
When you stand before the Father
In a state of shame
Because your robes are covered in mud
When you kneel at the feet
Of some harlot off the street
The gutters will run with blood
They will run with blood
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run to the City of Refuge
You better run
You better run
You better run and run and run and run and run
Lyrics submitted by Dressed2Depress, edited by Shambhala
City of Refuge Lyrics as written by Nicholas Cave
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
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@[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.
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Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
One of Nick cave's more rockier songs, very catchy. The imagery evokes the idea of trying to wash the metaphorical blood off of your hands when judgement day unfolds. Thats what I get out of it anyway.
This is an old Blind Willie Johnson song...great stuff!