"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.
Come back home today
I love you again
Please cause I'm afraid
I haven't slept in days
I know that the only time
Im on steady ground
Is when you're under me
I don't care if you sinned
I'll love you again
In fact I love you now
So just tell me how
I'm trying to find the way that I
Make you realize
That we're still meant to be
I was unaware that you were lost
And that you held it all from me
I was unaware and unprepared
For what I walked in on baby
yeah,yeah,yeah
Like an empire
We crumble and we fall
Thats not all we've got
Mistakes don't break us all
We have got a love inside
It's a yellow light
It keeps us warm again
Cause I'm not made of stone
I ain't got no throne
With help we can rebuild
Diminish all the guilt
It'll all work out cause babe
I'm a forgiving man
It helps that I'm in love
I was unaware that you were lost
And that you held it all from me
I was unaware and unprepared
For what I walked in on baby
yeah,yeah,yeah
I was unaware that you were lost
And that you held it all from me
I was unaware of your affair
And how you held him more than me
yeah,yeah,yeah
I was unaware that you were lost
And that you held it all from me
I was unaware of your affair
And how you held him more than me
I was unaware still paying the cost
Paid with the loss of you baby
I was unaware of your affair
And how you held him more than me
yeah,yeah,yeah
I love you again
Please cause I'm afraid
I haven't slept in days
I know that the only time
Im on steady ground
Is when you're under me
I don't care if you sinned
I'll love you again
In fact I love you now
So just tell me how
I'm trying to find the way that I
Make you realize
That we're still meant to be
I was unaware that you were lost
And that you held it all from me
I was unaware and unprepared
For what I walked in on baby
yeah,yeah,yeah
Like an empire
We crumble and we fall
Thats not all we've got
Mistakes don't break us all
We have got a love inside
It's a yellow light
It keeps us warm again
Cause I'm not made of stone
I ain't got no throne
With help we can rebuild
Diminish all the guilt
It'll all work out cause babe
I'm a forgiving man
It helps that I'm in love
I was unaware that you were lost
And that you held it all from me
I was unaware and unprepared
For what I walked in on baby
yeah,yeah,yeah
I was unaware that you were lost
And that you held it all from me
I was unaware of your affair
And how you held him more than me
yeah,yeah,yeah
I was unaware that you were lost
And that you held it all from me
I was unaware of your affair
And how you held him more than me
I was unaware still paying the cost
Paid with the loss of you baby
I was unaware of your affair
And how you held him more than me
yeah,yeah,yeah
Lyrics submitted by iloveyouhxx
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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.
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,
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.
i have a different version of this song that i downloaded from itunes. it goes---
unaware we would fall been a week since you called i went to your house they said you were out i pushed my way inside my heart froze as i saw the pieces of your clothes lying on the floor by your bedroom door i saw you try to hide
but the moment i saw your face, my body drowned and my heart floated away left my body sinking down
i was unaware and unprepared for what i walked in on baby i was unaware and unprepared
i was unaware that you were lost and that you held it all from me i was unaware and unprepared
remember when i would steal you away in the night? you'd go in my car how we drove so far forgot about the time and to kiss your sweet lips and we layed so helpless to the love we found i was on steady ground when you were by my side
but the moment i saw your face my body drowned and my heart floated away felt my body sinking down
i was unaware and unprepared for what i walked in on baby i was unaware and unprepared
i was unaware that you were lost and that you held it all from me i was unaware and unprepared
i couldn't say anything i thought you were my everything
but the moment i saw your face my body drowned and my heart floated away felt my body sinking down
i was unaware and unprepared for what i walked in on baby....
does anybody else have this version?
neither is wrong they're just different, the one you posted sarah is just the newer version that they have on thier newest ep
i have both, the lyrics to the newer one are better but i actually like listening to the older one more just because it's more raw has less digital remastering which for me just makes songs cuter