"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.
Everybody knows
You don't get what you plan
And everybody runs away from what they don't understand
Everybody hides away the guilt of their youth
And everybody wonders why no one ever tells the truth
Mmm
Everybody knows that everybody wants
And everybody has their ghosts
That emptiness that haunts
When everybody adds it up
They've lost more than they've won
And everybody wishes they were just like everyone
Forever and ever amen
Forever and ever amen
Mmm
Forever and ever amen
Ooh
Forever and ever amen
Ooh
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever, amen
Forever and ever, amen
You don't get what you plan
And everybody runs away from what they don't understand
Everybody hides away the guilt of their youth
And everybody wonders why no one ever tells the truth
Mmm
Everybody knows that everybody wants
And everybody has their ghosts
That emptiness that haunts
When everybody adds it up
They've lost more than they've won
And everybody wishes they were just like everyone
Forever and ever amen
Forever and ever amen
Mmm
Forever and ever amen
Ooh
Forever and ever amen
Ooh
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever amen (Ooh)
Forever and ever, amen
Forever and ever, amen
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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.
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,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
The verses show the common thoughts and contemplations of human nature. We all wonder why people lie, we all know that the world is cruel, and we all know we have things in life that will stay with us til the day we die. Forever and Ever amen is right. It never changes