"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 couldn't wait to turn sixteen
And drive all the boys around
Foot on the gas and hands on the wheel
Was all I could think about
A little rust in the bed of that truck
And a four speed on the floor
Five hundred dollars
It was mine all mine
And I never wanted nothing more
I took Katie down by the river
With a six dollar bottle of wine
Just a fool tryin' to play it cool
Hopin' she'd let me cross the line
And I was prayin' that she couldn't tell
I'd never been that far before
The first time's a one time feeling
And I never wanted nothin' more
No I never wanted nothin' more
Well, I'm what I am and I'm what I'm not
And I'm sure happy with what I've got
I live to love and laugh a lot
And that's all I need
My buddies all tried to change my mind
But I told them that I thought it through
Well Katie laughed and my mama cried
When they heard me say I do
Her little ring was a little thing
But it was all that I could afford
Now shes mine all mine
'Til the day I die
And I never wanted nothing more
No I never wanted nothing more
Well, I'm what I am and I'm what I'm not
And I'm sure happy with what I've got
I live to love and laugh a lot
And that's all I need
One Sunday I listened to the preacher
And I knew he was preaching to me
I couldn't help it I walked up front
And I got down on my knee
Right then and there I swear
I changed when I found the Lord
Glory Hallelujah good God Almighty
I never wanted nothing more
No I never wanted nothing more
Well, I'm what I am and I'm what I'm not
And I'm sure happy with what I've got
I live to love and laugh a lot
And that's all I need
I never wanted nothing more
And I never wanted nothing more
And drive all the boys around
Foot on the gas and hands on the wheel
Was all I could think about
A little rust in the bed of that truck
And a four speed on the floor
Five hundred dollars
It was mine all mine
And I never wanted nothing more
I took Katie down by the river
With a six dollar bottle of wine
Just a fool tryin' to play it cool
Hopin' she'd let me cross the line
And I was prayin' that she couldn't tell
I'd never been that far before
The first time's a one time feeling
And I never wanted nothin' more
No I never wanted nothin' more
Well, I'm what I am and I'm what I'm not
And I'm sure happy with what I've got
I live to love and laugh a lot
And that's all I need
My buddies all tried to change my mind
But I told them that I thought it through
Well Katie laughed and my mama cried
When they heard me say I do
Her little ring was a little thing
But it was all that I could afford
Now shes mine all mine
'Til the day I die
And I never wanted nothing more
No I never wanted nothing more
Well, I'm what I am and I'm what I'm not
And I'm sure happy with what I've got
I live to love and laugh a lot
And that's all I need
One Sunday I listened to the preacher
And I knew he was preaching to me
I couldn't help it I walked up front
And I got down on my knee
Right then and there I swear
I changed when I found the Lord
Glory Hallelujah good God Almighty
I never wanted nothing more
No I never wanted nothing more
Well, I'm what I am and I'm what I'm not
And I'm sure happy with what I've got
I live to love and laugh a lot
And that's all I need
I never wanted nothing more
And I never wanted nothing more
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.
This song's the most amazing thing. Ever.
"i'm what i am and i'm what i'm not and i'm sure happy with what i've hot i live to love and laugh a lot and that's all i need" -words to live by, seriously. those words are my anthem.
great song....... 2comments?
ok so i have a question: does he marry katey or does she laugh because she can't believe he actually got married?
ok so i have a question: does he marry katey or does she laugh because she can't believe he actually got married?
Wow, hawaiiancowgirl, I never thought of that, but that's a good question. I just assumed he married Katey, but you've got a good point! But, I think he married her. Maybe because that's the way I want the song to go.
I like this song, but I am puzzled by the line, "I'm what I am and I'm what I'm not..." Huh?
katey laughed happily because their getting married and it says took KATEY down to the river not kenny, kenny chesneys not a homo
This song is about Kennys gay teenager years. He wants to "drive all the boys around". The lyrics are also wrong. Its "Took KENNY down to the lake". Kenny Chesney is a homo.