"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.
Don't need no cash
We can make a dash, hit the street.
It's always been, it's always been you and me.
Baby it's cool, you suck at school anyway.
So pack it up, let's run away, run away.
[chorus]
I know them bruises ain't from fallin' down,
They seem to show when your drunk Dad's around.
We can go whenever you let go (whenever you let go)
Do you remember we said we'd run
Away together, holding on to one another.
I'll steal the car, steal the credit cards,
We'll run forever, holding on to one another.
This is the day, and tonight, I'll be there.
You know the time, you know the time don't be scared.
Get all your CDs, get all your posters,
Get what you need from their wallets and their purses.
[chorus]
And when we're all alone
With no one there to bother
I'll treat you like a queen
Forget about your father
There's no means that justify you
Livin' your whole life
In pain
[chorus]
(I'm here to save you from falling down)
Do you remember (I'm here to save you from falling down)
Do you remember (I'm here to save you from falling down)
Do you remember (I'm here to save you from falling down)
Do you remember (I'm here to save you from falling down)
(Do you remember)
We can make a dash, hit the street.
It's always been, it's always been you and me.
Baby it's cool, you suck at school anyway.
So pack it up, let's run away, run away.
[chorus]
I know them bruises ain't from fallin' down,
They seem to show when your drunk Dad's around.
We can go whenever you let go (whenever you let go)
Do you remember we said we'd run
Away together, holding on to one another.
I'll steal the car, steal the credit cards,
We'll run forever, holding on to one another.
This is the day, and tonight, I'll be there.
You know the time, you know the time don't be scared.
Get all your CDs, get all your posters,
Get what you need from their wallets and their purses.
[chorus]
And when we're all alone
With no one there to bother
I'll treat you like a queen
Forget about your father
There's no means that justify you
Livin' your whole life
In pain
[chorus]
(I'm here to save you from falling down)
Do you remember (I'm here to save you from falling down)
Do you remember (I'm here to save you from falling down)
Do you remember (I'm here to save you from falling down)
Do you remember (I'm here to save you from falling down)
(Do you remember)
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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."
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
i dont understand this song. help please.
i think this song is pretty easy to understand. he wants to take her away from her abusive dad and he's going to treat her really well. basically he just wants to save her from all the pain in her life and run away.
awwh. thats sweet. lol. i like this song.
thank you.
its about girl thats either has an abusive dad or bf and this guy wants to help her and get her away from the abuse.
outxofxsight is right... an abusive dad "they seem to show when your drunk dad's around" it's about a guy and a girl who promised to runaway before.. and now the guy is telling the girl she has to let go and they can "run forever" (be together) it's an awsome song. the piano in the verses adds another dimension to it
it's really awsome
I love this song. Its really moving. It's about someone who lives with an abusive dad:
" know them bruises ain't from fallin' down, They seem to show when your drunk Dad's around. We can go whenever you let go (whenever you let go)" The girl covers up her abuse by excuses and the guy is convinced that her alcoholic dad beats her and the guy is really concerned about her. He's telling her that she can be with the guy and safe whenever she gives up the life with the abuse.
"Do you remember we said we'd run Away together, holding on to one another. I'll steal the car, steal the credit cards, We'll run forever, holding on to one another. This is the day, and tonight, I'll be there. You know the time, you know the time don't be scared. Get all your CDs, get all your posters, Get what you need from their wallets and their purses." The guy is pretty much running away with the girl he loves and he wants to be with her and protect her. The both have promised to runaway with each other before and now is the time. The girl is gathering her things and leaving her old life with her dad and starting over with the guy.
"And when we're all alone With no one there to bother I'll treat you like a queen Forget about your father There's no means that justify you Livin' your whole life In pain" My favorite part of the song(: The guy and the girl are finally free and the guy is explaining to her that he's going help the girl start over. He says that he'll treat her only the best and that she should forget about her dad's alcoholism and abuse. He also tells her that she shouldn't live a life of abuse and pain. (:
"Do you remember (I'm here to save you from falling down)" A very good ending to this song.=) It's summarizing the song in a way by saying that the guy is trying to make the girl remember and now they're free and happy together. The guy is telling the girl that he will always be there for her through anything and he will help her through every problem she has with her life. (:
It's a beautiful song, in general.
Love this song. I played it for my cousin because her father is extremely abusive. And she ran away to her boyfriend's house. Lol. Whoops, but she's home now, it's all good.
'it's always been, always been you and me'
the meaning's pretty obvious, the guy is telling his girlfriend to runaway with him, because her dad is abusive. youknowww.
good song though. :]
wow....i cant believe my life in a song.
my dad gets angry and well you see where this is going.... my boyfriend and me talk about running away a lot. its hard cause were younger (16) yesturday night i asked him do you ever wonder about these bruises?? and all he said was ya i guess. we dont have a lot of money i've got two jobs just for phone bill, gas money. we both probably aren't the best students...though he's got to be the smartest boy i know. my friend had me listen to this song today....i cried in front of her...
so dont think i'm trying to sob story you guys CAUSE I'M NOT!! its just that this song well it means a lot. i hope everyone enjoys it as much as me.