"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.
What you see is what you get
Don't relax you're not home yet
What you see is what you get
Don't relax you're not home yet
Put your life into my hands
Look around you'll understand
Put your life into my hands
It's the '80's idiot
What you see is what you get
It's the '80's little fool
Don't forget the golden rule
What you see is what you get
What the hell did you expect
Pretty red roses, wet puppy noses
Men with rubber hoses is more like it
What you see is not always what you get
A lesson we must not forget
One never knows what to expect
So close your eyes and what you get
Is what you see and what you get
Open up your eyes and look around
Then close them tight and kiss the ground
You better be thankful you're alive
And how much longer can you survive
Underneath the mask there's something brewing
Underneath the ground there's something moving
It's the '80's idiot
What you see is what you get
It's the '80's little fool
Don't forget the golden rule
What you see is what you get
What the hell did you expect
Pretty red roses, wet puppy noses
Men with rubber hoses is more like it
Patrolling the street with all of their friends
Bashing you around trying to make you like them
What you see is what you get
Don't relax you're not home yet
What you see is what you get
Don't relax you're not home yet
Put your life into my hands
Look around you'll understand
Put your life into my hands
It's the '80's idiot
What you see is what you get
It's the '80's little fool
Don't forget the golden rule
What you see is what you get
What the hell did you expect
Pretty red roses, wet puppy noses
Men with rubber hoses is more like it
What you see is not always what you get
A lesson we must not forget
One never knows what to expect
So close your eyes and what you get
Is what you see and what you get
Open up your eyes and look around
Then close them tight and kiss the ground
You better be thankful you're alive
And how much longer can you survive
Underneath the mask there's something brewing
Underneath the ground there's something moving
It's the '80's idiot
What you see is what you get
It's the '80's little fool
Don't forget the golden rule
What you see is what you get
What the hell did you expect
Pretty red roses, wet puppy noses
Men with rubber hoses is more like it
Patrolling the street with all of their friends
Bashing you around trying to make you like them
What you see is what you get
Lyrics submitted by Sandwich-Masta
What You See Lyrics as written by Danny Elfman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
One of my favorites because he sings it gorgeously! I heart you Danny E!
Close them tight and kiss the grou-ow-wound!
Pure genius, as is the entire album.
Seems to be about the superficiality of the '80s "me generation." What you see is what you get because there's nothing under the surface. Everyone is superficial. This is no longer the decade of flower children and pretty red roses, but the age of greed.