"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.
They come into our life not even listening baby.
Long hallways dressed in gold to justify the souls that they've sold.
We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees
You know that this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees
You know that this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
Our eyes are open so synthetic suits have no where to go.
Our eyes are open so synthetic suits have no where to go.
No facist lies, or censored cries.
Cause now's the time for us to rise.
We'll burn their bibles and starve their families.
So a word to the wise "Don't fuck with us".
We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees
You know this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
Gonna be a shakedown. Gonna be a shakedown.
Gonna be a shakedown. Gonna be a shakedown.
We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees
You know that this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees
You know that this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
Long hallways dressed in gold to justify the souls that they've sold.
We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees
You know that this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees
You know that this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
Our eyes are open so synthetic suits have no where to go.
Our eyes are open so synthetic suits have no where to go.
No facist lies, or censored cries.
Cause now's the time for us to rise.
We'll burn their bibles and starve their families.
So a word to the wise "Don't fuck with us".
We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees
You know this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
Gonna be a shakedown. Gonna be a shakedown.
Gonna be a shakedown. Gonna be a shakedown.
We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees
You know that this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees
You know that this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
Lyrics submitted by ThankYouForTheScars
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
yayness first comment,bce are awesome,this is a lighter song i rekon,not as dark and twisted as there earlier songs,still great brad
i love this so much.
I love this
No facist lies, or censored cries. Cause now's the time for us to rise. We'll burn their bibles and starve their families. So a word to the wise "Don't fuck with us". We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees You know this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
No facist lies, or censored cries. Cause now's the time for us to rise. We'll burn their bibles and starve their families. So a word to the wise "Don't fuck with us". some of the best lyrics going around!!
Not one of their best tracks, but it's catchy. Definitely hit material. Good tune and great lyrics.
i was shocked when i first heard this song it's more commercial than their other stuff but still good really good lyric...
I don't think this is as great as some of their other stuff, but I like how it's a little different. Very catchy. I love how he says "Don't fuck with us" Nice lyrics.. Very interesting...
I seriously think this song is about racism. I have thought long and hard.. I got no idea what else it could mean... Australia is currently undergoing a serious immagration problem.. Asian, African/Samoan etc. I think that the lyrics in this song means taking action against them..
They come into our life not even listening baby. Long hallways dressed in gold to justify the souls that they've sold.
They come not understanding us, Doing whatever they want not caring.
We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees You know that this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby. We'll start a revolution and bring them to their knees You know that this will be a shakedown, a shakedown baby.
We are going to revolt against them, and bring them literally to their knees, Shakedown meanings were not going to bother with it and do whatever we can to stop it.
Our eyes are open so synthetic suits have no where to go. Our eyes are open so synthetic suits have no where to go. No facist lies, or censored cries. Cause now's the time for us to rise. We'll burn their bibles and starve their families. So a word to the wise "Don't fuck with us".
We are so open to them we dont see the problem they are causing..and we are stuck until we do something. No lies about it.. We will take action and not bullshit our way through everything.. and will do whatever is needed... its time for us to rise against it. well burn their beliefs and get rid of their families. dont f#ck with us... saying mess with us. we will win.
then were going to start a revolution against it all and do what we can.
Im not sure if these are the real meanings.. after looking over the lyrics and listening to the song over and over I got no idea what it would be about.. Im sorry if im wrong.. sorry if i offended I didnt mean too.. this is just how i portray the meaning of the song =\ that and ive had a few drinks.. so yeah. anyways.. thanks for the time. great song by a great band. whatever the meaning.