"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.
Fading in the afterglow
I wrinkle in my mind another fear
With ears beside the bedroom door
I close my eyes to keep inside the tears
The question of its worth won't iron out
It's tearing at the very thing I feel
I'm still Pablo at the park
Where's my Gloria when it's hard
How my mind has changed so much
But my heart's the same
He loves and then he hurts some more
It takes a generous man to lose something
Will I know what it means to see the pain through different eyes?
But nothing seems to work this time
I'll live inside the burden till I've healed
I'm still Pablo at the park
I'll find Gloria when it's hard
How my mind has changed so much
But my heart's the same
But nothing seems to work this time
I'm still Pablo at the park
And I've got Gloria when it's hard
How my mind has changed so much
But I'm still Pablo
I'm still Pablo
I wrinkle in my mind another fear
With ears beside the bedroom door
I close my eyes to keep inside the tears
The question of its worth won't iron out
It's tearing at the very thing I feel
I'm still Pablo at the park
Where's my Gloria when it's hard
How my mind has changed so much
But my heart's the same
He loves and then he hurts some more
It takes a generous man to lose something
Will I know what it means to see the pain through different eyes?
But nothing seems to work this time
I'll live inside the burden till I've healed
I'm still Pablo at the park
I'll find Gloria when it's hard
How my mind has changed so much
But my heart's the same
But nothing seems to work this time
I'm still Pablo at the park
And I've got Gloria when it's hard
How my mind has changed so much
But I'm still Pablo
I'm still Pablo
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
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.
No matter what happend in his life, it hasn't affected who he is.
Pablo is the Spanish equivalent of Paul, so I'm guessing it's about Paul's life.
Perhaps it is also about his love(Gloria) from his youth or something. They haven't seen each other in quite some time, and though Paul changed, at his heart he's still Paul.