"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.
People think I'm being perverse on purpose... (x7)
But they don't know.
You tried to give me your heart
But her fingermarks
Were all over it.
I tried to look impressed
It was as futile a gesture
As a futile gesture, futile gesture gets.
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
If you don't plan to be around five minutes later,
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
And don't just say the things that you think I want to hear.
You were there to fill my time
It was dark (but you)
But you had nice eyes.
I wasn't too impressed
You hadn't told me anything
Anything amusing yet.
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
If you don't plan to be around five minutes later,
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
And don't just say the things that you think I want to hear.
It's hard enough getting someone to like you
And then you find out that they're nothing like you
And it's been a waste of time.
"Girls fantasise on school trips to galleries
Of men who don't meet their parents' expectations
Who want to introduce them to illicit Russ Meyer films,
And dance 'til dawn to old Kinks records.
These are the things you don't understand
Quarter to ten, you're wasting your time
If you want to know me, watch how I dance."
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
If you don't plan to be around five minutes later,
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
And don't just say the things that you think I want to hear.
It's hard enough getting someone to like you
And then you find out that they're nothing like you
And it's been a waste of time.
People think I'm being perverse on purpose... (x8)
But they don't know you... (x6)
But they don't know.
You tried to give me your heart
But her fingermarks
Were all over it.
I tried to look impressed
It was as futile a gesture
As a futile gesture, futile gesture gets.
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
If you don't plan to be around five minutes later,
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
And don't just say the things that you think I want to hear.
You were there to fill my time
It was dark (but you)
But you had nice eyes.
I wasn't too impressed
You hadn't told me anything
Anything amusing yet.
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
If you don't plan to be around five minutes later,
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
And don't just say the things that you think I want to hear.
It's hard enough getting someone to like you
And then you find out that they're nothing like you
And it's been a waste of time.
"Girls fantasise on school trips to galleries
Of men who don't meet their parents' expectations
Who want to introduce them to illicit Russ Meyer films,
And dance 'til dawn to old Kinks records.
These are the things you don't understand
Quarter to ten, you're wasting your time
If you want to know me, watch how I dance."
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
If you don't plan to be around five minutes later,
Don't be a sycophant and don't try to hold my hand
And don't just say the things that you think I want to hear.
It's hard enough getting someone to like you
And then you find out that they're nothing like you
And it's been a waste of time.
People think I'm being perverse on purpose... (x8)
But they don't know you... (x6)
Lyrics submitted by celticblade
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
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.
the beginning bit really really creeps me out. sounds like a really little girl singing or something, and for some reason... that scares me.
It's hard enough getting someone to like you And then you find out that they're nothing like you And it's been a waste of time.
pretty much sums up every 'relationship' i've had... its a great song, but the talking bits really do give me the creeps!
"Girls fantasise on school trips to galleries Of men who don't meet their parents' expectations Who want to introduce them to illicit Russ Meyer films, And dance 'til dawn to old Kinks records. These are the things you don't understand Quarter to ten, you're wasting your time If you want to know me, watch how I dance."
There are lots of pretentious people like this. Cracking track.
I thought it was 'Perverse on poppas'? Hmm, oh well, haha, my friend lives in Fulwood, so I find myself singing this a lot!
Eeee I love this!
sycophant- a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
I love this song because people like this drive me nuts. Plus it's got a good beat, and you can't go wrong with that.