"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.
Oh
It never really mattered too much to me
That you were just too damned old for me
All that really mattered was you were my girlfriend
And, baby, that's all that mattered to me
Let me love you down
Even if it takes all night
Let me love you down
You know it's gonna be so right
Remember when I drove you home from work
I loved the way when you kissed me bye
All your friends think I'm just too young for you
You tell 'em that I can do what guys their age can do, oh, baby
Let me love you down
Even if it takes all night
Let me love you down
You know it's got to be so right
Let me love you down
Even if it takes all night
Let me love you down
You know it's got to be so right, oh
It never really mattered too much to me
That you were too damned old for me, mmm
All that really mattered was you were my girlfriend
And baby, that?s all that mattered to me, oh, baby
Let me love you down
Oh, oh
Let me love you down
You know it's gonna be so right
Let me love you down
Oh
Let me love you down
You know it's gonna be so right, mmm
I can love you down
Let me love you, love you, love you, love you
Let me love you, love you, love you, love you
Let me love you down (love you down)
I know, I know I could
Let me love you down (love you down)
I know it's gonna take all night
Let me love you down (love you down)
No, no, no, no
Let me love you down (love you down)
Oh, ho
Let me love
From dawn
Take the house and the car, mmm
I love like you are, whoa
Love you down, down, down, baby
Mmm, mmm
Love you down, down, down
Oh, whoa, whoa
I know, I know I could, yeah
Let me love you down
Whoa, whoa, mmm
It's just me and you the whole night through
Let me love you, baby
I know, I know I could
Love you down, down
Oh, ho
Let me love you
I know I could, baby, mmm
You're so sweet to me
Mmm, whoa, whoa
Let me love you down, oh, baby
It's just you and me, baby
The whole night through
Won't you let me love down
I can't take this too much longer, you know
It never really mattered too much to me
That you were just too damned old for me
All that really mattered was you were my girlfriend
And, baby, that's all that mattered to me
Let me love you down
Even if it takes all night
Let me love you down
You know it's gonna be so right
Remember when I drove you home from work
I loved the way when you kissed me bye
All your friends think I'm just too young for you
You tell 'em that I can do what guys their age can do, oh, baby
Let me love you down
Even if it takes all night
Let me love you down
You know it's got to be so right
Let me love you down
Even if it takes all night
Let me love you down
You know it's got to be so right, oh
It never really mattered too much to me
That you were too damned old for me, mmm
All that really mattered was you were my girlfriend
And baby, that?s all that mattered to me, oh, baby
Let me love you down
Oh, oh
Let me love you down
You know it's gonna be so right
Let me love you down
Oh
Let me love you down
You know it's gonna be so right, mmm
I can love you down
Let me love you, love you, love you, love you
Let me love you, love you, love you, love you
Let me love you down (love you down)
I know, I know I could
Let me love you down (love you down)
I know it's gonna take all night
Let me love you down (love you down)
No, no, no, no
Let me love you down (love you down)
Oh, ho
Let me love
From dawn
Take the house and the car, mmm
I love like you are, whoa
Love you down, down, down, baby
Mmm, mmm
Love you down, down, down
Oh, whoa, whoa
I know, I know I could, yeah
Let me love you down
Whoa, whoa, mmm
It's just me and you the whole night through
Let me love you, baby
I know, I know I could
Love you down, down
Oh, ho
Let me love you
I know I could, baby, mmm
You're so sweet to me
Mmm, whoa, whoa
Let me love you down, oh, baby
It's just you and me, baby
The whole night through
Won't you let me love down
I can't take this too much longer, you know
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
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”
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/
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.
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.
When I first heard this song, my first thought was that I recognised it from the Flo Rida song ‘I cry’. Quickly realised that this sampled song has way more to it... personally think it’s an amazing piece of work.
It’s quite simplistic in the way she sings of the way a man (her love at one time) keeps drawing her back by playing piano. I guess you can look more into this. The piano can be a metaphor for a lot more. Doesn’t really matter what it’s actually a metaphor for.... I think she’s just singing about how she’s torn between leaving someone she once loved, and how there’s always that one small but profound thing he does or says, that draws her back again.
In a way it’s quite a simple concept, but the way she tells the story, sets a scene and makes the whole situation so heartbreaking has you relating to how difficult this decision was to her and how we’re all easily torn between leaving someone we love... or the idea of them/hope we hold on to.