"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 don't mind where you come from
As long as you come to me
I don't like illusions
I can't see them clearly
I don't care, no, I wouldn't dare
To fix the twist in you
You've shown me eventually
What you'll do
I don't mind
I don't care
As long as you're here
Go ahead, tell me you'll leave again
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are
If you take me for everything
Do it all over again
It's all the same
Hours slide, and days go by
Till you decide to come
And in between it always seems too long
For certain
And I have the skill, yeah, I have the will
To breathe you in while I can
However long you stay
Is all that I am
I don't mind
I don't care
As long as you're here
Go ahead, tell me you'll leave again
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are
If you take me for everything
Do it all over again
It's always the same
Wrong or right
Black or white
If I close my eyes
It's all the same
In my life
The compromise
I close my eyes
It's all the same
Go ahead, say it, you're leaving
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are
If you take me for everything
Do it all over again
It's all the same
As long as you come to me
I don't like illusions
I can't see them clearly
I don't care, no, I wouldn't dare
To fix the twist in you
You've shown me eventually
What you'll do
I don't mind
I don't care
As long as you're here
Go ahead, tell me you'll leave again
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are
If you take me for everything
Do it all over again
It's all the same
Hours slide, and days go by
Till you decide to come
And in between it always seems too long
For certain
And I have the skill, yeah, I have the will
To breathe you in while I can
However long you stay
Is all that I am
I don't mind
I don't care
As long as you're here
Go ahead, tell me you'll leave again
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are
If you take me for everything
Do it all over again
It's always the same
Wrong or right
Black or white
If I close my eyes
It's all the same
In my life
The compromise
I close my eyes
It's all the same
Go ahead, say it, you're leaving
You'll just come back running
Holding your scarred heart in hand
It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are
If you take me for everything
Do it all over again
It's all the same
Lyrics submitted by aplc4miead
All the Same Lyrics as written by Antonina Armato Emma Anzai
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Sentric Music, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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/
I think this could possibly be a relationship (not necessarily romantic), between two people of whom one or both have Borderline Personality Disorder or Bipolar Disorder. There are many black-and-white elements in the lyrics.
I don't mind where you come from As long as you come to me But I don't like illusions I can't see them clearly I don't care, No I wouldn't dare To fix the twist in you You shown me eventually what you'll do.
-- I don't care about your past, or your current troubles, as long as you're with me. I just don't like games and pretences. I know you have a thorn in your side, and I know I can't help you remove it. And I know you'll eventually run away from me.
I don't mind, I don't care As long as you're here Go ahead tell me you'll leave again You'll just come back running, Holding your scarred Heart in Hand It's all the same And I'll take you for who you are If you take me for everything Do it all over again It's all the same.
-- But I don't mind, because there will be times when we're together. And when you do run away, you'll come running right back to me. I know this is a part of you. I know to know you is to know this, and that's okay. Just keep coming back to me when you do run away.
Hours fly and days go by 'Till you decide to come But in-between it always seems too long For certain But I have the skill And I have the will To breathe you in while I can However long you stay Is all that I am.
-- I hate waiting for you. A part of me worries that you might not come back. But I have to endure this to savour the good times with you. However long you'll stay here, I'll take it.
I don't mind, I don't care As long as you're here Go ahead tell me you'll leave again You'll just come back running Holding your scarred Heart in Hand It's all the same And I'll take you for who you are If you take me for everything Do it all over again It's always the same.
-- Chorus. Reiterates what has been previously said.
Wrong or Right Black or white If I close my eyes It's all the same.
-- I think this is a reference to splitting. Love me, hate me. Stay with me, or run away from me. It's the same cycle. If I close my eyes - if I look beyond face value, it's all the same to me.
In my Life The compromise I'll close my eyes It's all the same Go ahead say it You're leaving You'll just come back running Holding your scarred Heart in Hand It's all the same And I'll take you for who you are If you take me for everything Do it all over again It's all the same.
-- The first part acknowledges that knowing this person is a compromise. Allowing yourself to be hurt in order to continue being with them.
Maybe my own experinces have tarnished my perception of this song, but it seems to fit like a glass slipper to me.