"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.
My city sleeps by the side of a freeway, the city scraps
And winter time she wore a yellow coat
Now there's nothin' on her back
If a building falls you wouldn't care to notice unless you were in it
Then no one cares about climbin' stairs, nothin' at the top no more
Outside trippin' in the broken city
Outside trippin' in the broken city, I watch a millionaire crack
Outside trippin' in the broken city
Outside kickin' in the broken city, there's nothin' wrong with that
Now the snow falls down like it's fallin' on an ocean
Dead and empty by the railroad tracks where they used to go and come
Now they don't come back
You can heal the rust, goin' up the throughways
Down the alleys where they stole this town from the frontier
I can see 'em tryin' to steal it back
Outside trippin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside trippin' in the broken city, I watch a millionaire crack
Outside kickin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside trippin' in the broken city, there's nothin' wrong with that
Now the sun won't shine on this part of the map
Anymore
When it's cold outside I see it hide behind the smokestacks
No thin roses, no goldrush, no miner, no revolution they'd hire
And the shipyard is a graveyard, no one will be trying to find him
Outside trippin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside kickin' in the broken city, I watch a millionaire crack
Outside trippin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside kickin' in the broken city, there's nothin' wrong with that
(There's nothin' wrong with that)
(Outside trippin' in the broken city)
And winter time she wore a yellow coat
Now there's nothin' on her back
If a building falls you wouldn't care to notice unless you were in it
Then no one cares about climbin' stairs, nothin' at the top no more
Outside trippin' in the broken city
Outside trippin' in the broken city, I watch a millionaire crack
Outside trippin' in the broken city
Outside kickin' in the broken city, there's nothin' wrong with that
Now the snow falls down like it's fallin' on an ocean
Dead and empty by the railroad tracks where they used to go and come
Now they don't come back
You can heal the rust, goin' up the throughways
Down the alleys where they stole this town from the frontier
I can see 'em tryin' to steal it back
Outside trippin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside trippin' in the broken city, I watch a millionaire crack
Outside kickin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside trippin' in the broken city, there's nothin' wrong with that
Now the sun won't shine on this part of the map
Anymore
When it's cold outside I see it hide behind the smokestacks
No thin roses, no goldrush, no miner, no revolution they'd hire
And the shipyard is a graveyard, no one will be trying to find him
Outside trippin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside kickin' in the broken city, I watch a millionaire crack
Outside trippin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside kickin' in the broken city, there's nothin' wrong with that
(There's nothin' wrong with that)
(Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Lyrics submitted by ColdenScence
Broken City Lyrics as written by Chris Cornell Timothy Commerford
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
This entire album's more funky than the previous ones, just as Out Of Exile was funkier than the self-titled. Me likes.
And to me, Cornell just sounds like Cornell, always. I don't like Zack; certainly don't want RATM back. shudder