"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.
I run my thoughts into the ground again
And only stop if you say when
‘cause doing what you do instead of what you say
Was the first mistake I made
All was well for you
I’m off your mind you’re on your way
If you think you can’t decide
Find out what it takes
You say you couldn’t have stopped it even if you tried to
But nothing’s changed and nothing’s new
I’m company discarded for company you keep
I wish you well then fall asleep
But sleeping fails as a means of escape
I just end up awake
I don’t ask why we’re through
A reason must be on its way
Something tied to why you can’t explain
You say you couldn’t have stopped it even if you tried to
But nothing’s changed and nothing’s new
You say you couldn’t have felt it but you never tried to
Nothing’s changed and nothing’s new
It’s too hard to ignore things I used to say but can’t say anymore
For now I’m held at bay when somewhere down the line I’ll forget you anyway
But anyway
You say you couldn’t have stopped it even if you tried to
But nothing’s changed and nothing’s new
You say you couldn’t have felt it but you never tried to
Nothing’s changed and nothing’s new
Nothing’s new
And only stop if you say when
‘cause doing what you do instead of what you say
Was the first mistake I made
All was well for you
I’m off your mind you’re on your way
If you think you can’t decide
Find out what it takes
You say you couldn’t have stopped it even if you tried to
But nothing’s changed and nothing’s new
I’m company discarded for company you keep
I wish you well then fall asleep
But sleeping fails as a means of escape
I just end up awake
I don’t ask why we’re through
A reason must be on its way
Something tied to why you can’t explain
You say you couldn’t have stopped it even if you tried to
But nothing’s changed and nothing’s new
You say you couldn’t have felt it but you never tried to
Nothing’s changed and nothing’s new
It’s too hard to ignore things I used to say but can’t say anymore
For now I’m held at bay when somewhere down the line I’ll forget you anyway
But anyway
You say you couldn’t have stopped it even if you tried to
But nothing’s changed and nothing’s new
You say you couldn’t have felt it but you never tried to
Nothing’s changed and nothing’s new
Nothing’s new
Lyrics submitted by largogirl
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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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.
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Punchline
Ed Sheeran
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