"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.
She saw your face across the street
She turned away
‘Cause you’re not something she needs
She’s independent
She’s weak at times
You won’t stop her
You can’t change her mind
She’s got her eyes closed
while you’re outside
She whispers softly
“only children cry”
Along the way home
She stops into the diner
You won’t say you loved her
And she won’t say goodbye
She’s not what the world sees
She’s never been a saint
She’s been hiding in her trench coat
She’s covered scars with paint
Whatever lives inside her is trying to break free
She’s done watching clouds pass by a window
She’s done feeling hopeless when the wind blows
Yeah
You think it’s only about yourself
You forget about her
And what falls from her mouth
You don’t believe me
But I know she wishes
You were by her side
Oh but love changes time
She’s not what the world sees
She’s nowhere near a saint
She’s hides within her trench coat
She’s covers scars with paint
Whatever lives inside her is trying to break free
She’s done watching clouds pass by a window
She’s done feeling hopeless when the wind blows
It’s alright to be beautiful be free
It’s alright she still loves you she still loves you
She saw your face
Across the street
She turned away
And then fell upon her knees
She’s been ripped open a million times
You’ve got to save her
Got to call her mine
She’s not what the world sees
She’s never been a saint
She’s been hiding in her trench coat
She’s covered scars with paint
Whatever was inside of her is trying to break free
She’s done watching clouds pass by a window
She’s done feeling hopeless when the wind blows
She turned away
‘Cause you’re not something she needs
She’s independent
She’s weak at times
You won’t stop her
You can’t change her mind
She’s got her eyes closed
while you’re outside
She whispers softly
“only children cry”
Along the way home
She stops into the diner
You won’t say you loved her
And she won’t say goodbye
She’s not what the world sees
She’s never been a saint
She’s been hiding in her trench coat
She’s covered scars with paint
Whatever lives inside her is trying to break free
She’s done watching clouds pass by a window
She’s done feeling hopeless when the wind blows
Yeah
You think it’s only about yourself
You forget about her
And what falls from her mouth
You don’t believe me
But I know she wishes
You were by her side
Oh but love changes time
She’s not what the world sees
She’s nowhere near a saint
She’s hides within her trench coat
She’s covers scars with paint
Whatever lives inside her is trying to break free
She’s done watching clouds pass by a window
She’s done feeling hopeless when the wind blows
It’s alright to be beautiful be free
It’s alright she still loves you she still loves you
She saw your face
Across the street
She turned away
And then fell upon her knees
She’s been ripped open a million times
You’ve got to save her
Got to call her mine
She’s not what the world sees
She’s never been a saint
She’s been hiding in her trench coat
She’s covered scars with paint
Whatever was inside of her is trying to break free
She’s done watching clouds pass by a window
She’s done feeling hopeless when the wind blows
Lyrics submitted by kkd530
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
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.
Casey Frazier is a real poet. I haven't heard honest lyrics like his in ages. I even bought his album off iTunes. I've had iTunes for 2 years and this is the first time I've actually bought something.
This song is wonderful. :') But I can't quite figure out what it's about...
The song explains itself pretty much..<br /> <br /> "She saw your face across the street<br /> She turned away<br /> �Cause you�re not something she needs<br /> She�s independent<br /> She�s weak at times<br /> You won�t stop her<br /> You can�t change her mind"<br /> <br /> This verse of the song, The girl sees the guy she is in love with and turns away because she doesn't need him, shes independent but weak at time's but just because shes weak doesn't mean this guy is going to stop her from being independent or changing her mind in the decision she has made.<br /> <br /> "She�s got her eyes closed<br /> while you�re outside<br /> She whispers softly<br /> �only children cry�<br /> Along the way home<br /> She stops into the diner"<br /> <br /> So she wont cry, she reminds herself "only children cry" as she closes her eyes.<br /> <br /> "You won�t say you loved her<br /> And she won�t say goodbye"<br /> <br /> Both the girl and the boy are being stubborn. <br /> <br /> She�s not what the world sees<br /> She�s never been a saint<br /> She�s been hiding in her trench coat<br /> She�s covered scars with paint<br /> <br /> There's more to the girl than just what people see on the outside, "she's never been a saint" she's not perfect, "She's been hiding in her trench coat" she hides who she really is, and covers her scars, or things of the past with paint. Umm like a mask, I guess you could say?<br /> <br /> Whatever lives inside her is trying to break free<br /> She�s done watching clouds pass by a window<br /> She�s done feeling hopeless when the wind blows<br /> Yeah<br /> <br /> She's trying to be herself, but she done waiting for this guy, and done watching clouds and feeling helpless when hes not around.<br /> <br /> You think it�s only about yourself<br /> You forget about her<br /> And what falls from her mouth<br /> You don�t believe me<br /> But I know she wishes<br /> You were by her side<br /> Oh but love changes time<br /> <br /> All the guy thinks about is himself and he forgets about her, and how beautiful the words that come out of her mouth are. She's still wishing he was with her, but love changes with time.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> It�s alright to be beautiful be free<br /> It�s alright she still loves you she still loves you<br /> <br /> <br /> She saw your face<br /> Across the street<br /> She turned away<br /> And then fell upon her knees<br /> She�s been ripped open a million times<br /> You�ve got to save her<br /> Got to call her mine<br /> <br /> He has to save her and love her, at this time shes breaking, knowing she needs him.<br /> <br /> <br /> Whatever was inside of her is trying to break free<br /> She�s done watching clouds pass by a window<br /> She�s done feeling hopeless when the wind blows<br /> <br /> but she still is tired of waiting..<br /> <br /> I guess<3 :D This song goes with my last relationship. So it's something I can relate to!
Also I agree Casey is such a good poet! I love Elysian Fields <33! Watch Teenage Dirtbag<3 lots of his songs in there. +++plus good movie<3+++