"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.
Got the law man, the con man, the liquor store man
Got the man at the premiere to 'Spider-Man'
Got the old man calling on the young man
Got the soul man trying to keep a hold man
I've seen the stars lookin' in her eyes
So many times I tried
Seen a man who caught the rainbow's end
He claimed that the pot of gold resided within
For a name in the world today, for a little bit of fame today
For a name in the U.S.A., you want to fly high
You want to fly high, you want to fly
You want to fly, you want to fly high
Got this is your land man, this is my land man
Got the blood on the tracks man
Got the guilty man, got the innocent man
Got the buffalo soldier, the dread lock Rastaman
Seen the stars lookin' in her eyes
So many times I've tried
Talked to a man who caught the
Rainbow's end he found
That the pot of gold resided within
For a name in the world today, for a little bit of fame today
For a name in the U.S.A., you want to fly high
You want to fly high, you want to fly
You want to fly, you want to fly high
For a name in the world today, for a little bit of fame today
For a name in the U.S.A., you want to fly high
You want to fly high, you want to fly
You want to fly, you want to fly high
Got the man at the premiere to 'Spider-Man'
Got the old man calling on the young man
Got the soul man trying to keep a hold man
I've seen the stars lookin' in her eyes
So many times I tried
Seen a man who caught the rainbow's end
He claimed that the pot of gold resided within
For a name in the world today, for a little bit of fame today
For a name in the U.S.A., you want to fly high
You want to fly high, you want to fly
You want to fly, you want to fly high
Got this is your land man, this is my land man
Got the blood on the tracks man
Got the guilty man, got the innocent man
Got the buffalo soldier, the dread lock Rastaman
Seen the stars lookin' in her eyes
So many times I've tried
Talked to a man who caught the
Rainbow's end he found
That the pot of gold resided within
For a name in the world today, for a little bit of fame today
For a name in the U.S.A., you want to fly high
You want to fly high, you want to fly
You want to fly, you want to fly high
For a name in the world today, for a little bit of fame today
For a name in the U.S.A., you want to fly high
You want to fly high, you want to fly
You want to fly, you want to fly high
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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”
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
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.
Talked to a man who caught the raninbow's end he found That the pot of gold resided within
---the words are so moving..... its all about the trials and tribulation of this life, and how many different distinct character there are. In the end it all comes down to how you get your "fill", and these days people's definition of self gratification is usually getting noticed somehow orfame... though no matter who you are it must "reside within".
His reference when it says "seen the stars looking in her eyes so many times I've tried" i think is about a girl he sees being hypnotized by the glitz and facade of life.
"Got the buffalo soldier The dreadlock Rastaman"
Tribute to Bob, perhaps?
"Talked to a man who caught the raninbow's end he found That the pot of gold resided within"
The true treasures in life come from within yourself, not material things?
well blood on the tracks is a bob dylan record. woody guthrie wrote this land is your land. dreadlock rasta man is i guess a bob marley reference. just a thought
well i agree with simplistichic. I think its about all these people in america mostly immagrants who came here for the good old american dreams all these faces living there hard suffering life trying to make a name here on Gods land... and when he say talk to a man that caught a rainbow end means when you see someone who came from nothing and then tells you he is living the American dreams it just gives you this hope to keep pushing to get yours... When he says see those stars looking in her eyes I just visualize the american flag...
My daddy and I have been tearing this song apart for well over a month, trying to pin each line to a well known person, living or dead. Any help?? Got the law man-? The con man-? The liquor store- man- Hank Williams Got the man at the premiere to "Spider-Man" Got the old man calling on the young man- The George Bushes Got the soul man-? Trying to keep a hold man-? possibly one of the rolling stones Got the this is your land man This is my land man- Woody Guthrie Got the blood on the tracks man- Dylan Got the guilty man Got the innocent man- OJ Simpson Got the buffalo soldier The dreadlock Rastaman- Marley