"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.
Once again, now where do I start, dear love
Dumb struck with the pure luck to find you here
Every morn' I awake from a cavernous night,
Sometimes still pondering the previous plight,
Seems life done changed long time no speak,
Nowadays I often forget the day of the week
Taking it by stride if you know what I mean,
No harm done, no offense taken by me
So let's rap, we'll catch up to par, what's the haps?
Perhaps we're even closer now after all things considered on this side of the planet,
Couldn't pick a better time even if we planned it!
To come clean and candid if I have to
Oh what I wouldn't trade for your laughter
Sweet and sour spice in my poetry pot melting,
Even better than the real thing!
It's like the God in me saw the Devil in you
I wanted to break myself in the worst way when I met you
Who would have thought, conversate by the river, celebrate birth,
Sit and delivered the lines that would prove to be the seeds of trust
Unsigned, yeah but destined to grow with sunshine
Self-assigned task piled on the desk of good works,
Knowing hardship appreciate the best of both worlds!
C'est la vie, as they say L.O.V.E evidently, see every song has a sequel
Never same, everything but the name, all fresh just like back then, how we do everyday
C'est la vie, as they say L.O.V.E eloquently, see every dream has a part two
Never same, you got to keep it tight, all fresh just like back then, now hear me out…
Once together, now where do we go, dear divine
I pray that you keep watching over us,
From the heavens where light is the nucleus
To this space filled with darkness and negative matter
Anti-gravity pull is what I would rather feel when I leave this shell eventually
Ties to the mother earth ground me mentally,
Real vibes will keep me alive spiritually
Imagination brings bliss at no cost, when I blink blink I receive at no loss
Victory comes in small packages like a leaf of an olive tree brought back by a dove
From above, then I'm gonna rhyme love,
Well you saw that one coming ever since the beginning of the end
Well anyways, I am not a perfect being, yes I am a man full of sin
It's like the Devil in me saw the God in you,
You epitomize the etymology of enthusiasm!
Look it, up there lies the clouds that form the rain
That came from the ocean that flowed from the river
I'm a believer, firm with the first words, lyrical transceiver of our ancient roots
(Science + Arts) * Faith / # of our Ethnic Race!
Let me mention what I've been thinking
How to save the children, when the ship is sinking
So I'm singing, no lip syncing to slogans,
Political hooligans with tanks, missiles and guns!
Everything is relative when it's all in the family of man,
Understand the time has finally come to realize the great power of 1,
All formulas equalize under the Sun, Amen!
The rhymes will heal 'cause I believe in music,
In times of need I won't be leaving you sick
The beat plus the melody's the recipe,
Your vibe surely brings out the best in me!
The rhymes will heal 'cause I believe in music,
In times of need I won't be leaving you sick
The beat plus the melody's the recipe,
All good souls lost may they rest in peace!
(repeat)
Hiphop worldwide we got to live in peace, like that!
Dumb struck with the pure luck to find you here
Every morn' I awake from a cavernous night,
Sometimes still pondering the previous plight,
Seems life done changed long time no speak,
Nowadays I often forget the day of the week
Taking it by stride if you know what I mean,
No harm done, no offense taken by me
So let's rap, we'll catch up to par, what's the haps?
Perhaps we're even closer now after all things considered on this side of the planet,
Couldn't pick a better time even if we planned it!
To come clean and candid if I have to
Oh what I wouldn't trade for your laughter
Sweet and sour spice in my poetry pot melting,
Even better than the real thing!
It's like the God in me saw the Devil in you
I wanted to break myself in the worst way when I met you
Who would have thought, conversate by the river, celebrate birth,
Sit and delivered the lines that would prove to be the seeds of trust
Unsigned, yeah but destined to grow with sunshine
Self-assigned task piled on the desk of good works,
Knowing hardship appreciate the best of both worlds!
C'est la vie, as they say L.O.V.E evidently, see every song has a sequel
Never same, everything but the name, all fresh just like back then, how we do everyday
C'est la vie, as they say L.O.V.E eloquently, see every dream has a part two
Never same, you got to keep it tight, all fresh just like back then, now hear me out…
Once together, now where do we go, dear divine
I pray that you keep watching over us,
From the heavens where light is the nucleus
To this space filled with darkness and negative matter
Anti-gravity pull is what I would rather feel when I leave this shell eventually
Ties to the mother earth ground me mentally,
Real vibes will keep me alive spiritually
Imagination brings bliss at no cost, when I blink blink I receive at no loss
Victory comes in small packages like a leaf of an olive tree brought back by a dove
From above, then I'm gonna rhyme love,
Well you saw that one coming ever since the beginning of the end
Well anyways, I am not a perfect being, yes I am a man full of sin
It's like the Devil in me saw the God in you,
You epitomize the etymology of enthusiasm!
Look it, up there lies the clouds that form the rain
That came from the ocean that flowed from the river
I'm a believer, firm with the first words, lyrical transceiver of our ancient roots
(Science + Arts) * Faith / # of our Ethnic Race!
Let me mention what I've been thinking
How to save the children, when the ship is sinking
So I'm singing, no lip syncing to slogans,
Political hooligans with tanks, missiles and guns!
Everything is relative when it's all in the family of man,
Understand the time has finally come to realize the great power of 1,
All formulas equalize under the Sun, Amen!
The rhymes will heal 'cause I believe in music,
In times of need I won't be leaving you sick
The beat plus the melody's the recipe,
Your vibe surely brings out the best in me!
The rhymes will heal 'cause I believe in music,
In times of need I won't be leaving you sick
The beat plus the melody's the recipe,
All good souls lost may they rest in peace!
(repeat)
Hiphop worldwide we got to live in peace, like that!
Lyrics submitted by Sobrikette
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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”
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.
This song rules- it is what it is.
smoothest track I've heard from Nujabes, one of my favorites if not my favorite by them.
If you want an interpretation I think the song in general is just about loving each other with you and your fellow brother or sister, and not leaving out on one another when they get down or "sick" (The rhymes will heal 'cause I believe in music, in times of need I won't be leaving you sick) and also how no one is perfect but you should project the most positiveness you can; there is always room to be optimistic with life, and with the girl part, maybe there was a special someone who brought out the best in him, and helped him to express all of these good emotions everyone should share
Nujabes is a genius. RIP. The cut after "All formulas equalize under the Sun, Amen!" is mind-blowing. Listen to it carefully. Crazy, crazy, CRAZY rhythm. One of the most creatives I've seen/heard.
i always liked this track/beat, but after reading the lyrics, i appreciate this infinitely more. i see why people call Nujabes a genius.
He says "conversate." It's not a word! Is Nujabas a black man? I'm guessin' since he later says "ethnic race" that he is indeed a minority. (I have a 'conversate' pet peeve...that and "axing" children)
Japanese???? Where did he learn English?!!!
So if I have a grammatical syntax inquiry I can just axe you? :)
Arrr Arrr. I am going to go out on a LIMB here and conclude that you did not find my comment racially insensitive.
Sin is already taxed high enough; I've had to go from 7 packs of cigarettes a day to 7 cigarettes a week:(
Sorry. My math was off.
Actually, Shing02 wrote the lyrics while Nujabes created the beat. It says that in the title, but...regardless, they work so beautifully and smoothly together. I love their collaborations. RIP Jun.
I think it's
"The rhymes will heal 'cause I believe in music, In times of need THEY won't be leaving you sick"
He's talking about the rhymes.