"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.
I thought you weren't contagious I thought I owned my inner-self
You offer, now I forget the reason I can't have
As you try hard to please me this need turns to greed down inside
I touch the hand of my sickness and feel my faith divide
if I said I would, would you care? would you take me there?
And feed my desire with your will to give
a distant storm and the lightning strikes the pouring rain feels warm tonight
Thunder echoes and the lesson begins as one more time you take me in
But I look back at you and think of all the things I should have said and done
But I can't talk no I can't talk I try to hide myself from shame
And try to share the blame for what I've done what have I done?
now I said I would, do you care as you take me there
I taste my first time and now I can't turn away
I lie to myself like a man trying to understand
As you change my life with your will to give
I see disgrace and it's looking back at me
Blame my desire for lies I live and breathe
Begin again though the hardest part to take
Behind my eyes you still remain
I thought you'd understand when you took me there
The hardest part to take you still remain
You offer, now I forget the reason I can't have
As you try hard to please me this need turns to greed down inside
I touch the hand of my sickness and feel my faith divide
if I said I would, would you care? would you take me there?
And feed my desire with your will to give
a distant storm and the lightning strikes the pouring rain feels warm tonight
Thunder echoes and the lesson begins as one more time you take me in
But I look back at you and think of all the things I should have said and done
But I can't talk no I can't talk I try to hide myself from shame
And try to share the blame for what I've done what have I done?
now I said I would, do you care as you take me there
I taste my first time and now I can't turn away
I lie to myself like a man trying to understand
As you change my life with your will to give
I see disgrace and it's looking back at me
Blame my desire for lies I live and breathe
Begin again though the hardest part to take
Behind my eyes you still remain
I thought you'd understand when you took me there
The hardest part to take you still remain
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.