"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.
They ain't never fuck with us but come around and play like gang
Lost Ty and truth be told that's just why I ain't the same
A killer in the city hide his pain all in his shade
Shawty from the city to the pain she put mascara on her face
His trail ain't looking good he wish he took the plea for that case
Her baby daddy left her she wish that he just nutted on her face
He feel like crashing out his partner tryna tell him it's okay
She feel like breaking down her momma tryna tell her it's okay
But it ain't
Look up in his face you see the pain
Look up in her face you see the shame
She working two jobs now just wanna make sure her lil boy straight
He posted on the block tryna get back for his brother name
It's ain't easy
She blame her baby father hollering why you leave me
He really miss his partner his death had turned him evil
Now he a demon scheming watching for them people
No money got her treeshing eating fucking for them zeroes
Her son crying in the other room crying while her face stuffed inside a pillow
Getting her back beat whipping her head just like willow
A year later she find out another baby on the way that shit crazy
She don't know who's it got her moving shaky
She giving birth doctors panicking complications
Okay
She died giving birth her momma hollering like no way no way
It ain't okay
They ain't never fuck with us but come around and play like gang
Lost Ty and truth be told that's just why I ain't the same
A killer in the city hide his pain all in his shade
Shawty from the city to the pain she put mascara on her face
His trail ain't looking good he wish he took the plea for that case
Her baby daddy left her she wish that he just nutted on her face
He feel like crashing out his partner tryna tell him it's okay
She feel like breaking down her momma tryna tell her it's okay
But it ain't
Wodie locked up he up state
Found out his brudda died caught one to the face
His mind start to race
He feel helpless cause he locked inside a cage
He thinking bout blowing brain
Okay, fast forward
On the flip
Wodie fresh out back in the trenches with a grip with a stick
Tryna get back for the hit
He tell his bro spin the car ready to take that risk
It is what is
In the trenches he a superstar
Blockbaby he hop in the car
Gloves on masked up intoxicated
His bro gave him the drop
They pull up to the spot
Ayo bro cut the lights
Keep that shit drive
But what he don't know it was his homie the whole time
He got out the car
Look over his shoulder and seen the flash bang from the 9ine
Lost Ty and truth be told that's just why I ain't the same
A killer in the city hide his pain all in his shade
Shawty from the city to the pain she put mascara on her face
His trail ain't looking good he wish he took the plea for that case
Her baby daddy left her she wish that he just nutted on her face
He feel like crashing out his partner tryna tell him it's okay
She feel like breaking down her momma tryna tell her it's okay
But it ain't
Look up in his face you see the pain
Look up in her face you see the shame
She working two jobs now just wanna make sure her lil boy straight
He posted on the block tryna get back for his brother name
It's ain't easy
She blame her baby father hollering why you leave me
He really miss his partner his death had turned him evil
Now he a demon scheming watching for them people
No money got her treeshing eating fucking for them zeroes
Her son crying in the other room crying while her face stuffed inside a pillow
Getting her back beat whipping her head just like willow
A year later she find out another baby on the way that shit crazy
She don't know who's it got her moving shaky
She giving birth doctors panicking complications
Okay
She died giving birth her momma hollering like no way no way
It ain't okay
They ain't never fuck with us but come around and play like gang
Lost Ty and truth be told that's just why I ain't the same
A killer in the city hide his pain all in his shade
Shawty from the city to the pain she put mascara on her face
His trail ain't looking good he wish he took the plea for that case
Her baby daddy left her she wish that he just nutted on her face
He feel like crashing out his partner tryna tell him it's okay
She feel like breaking down her momma tryna tell her it's okay
But it ain't
Wodie locked up he up state
Found out his brudda died caught one to the face
His mind start to race
He feel helpless cause he locked inside a cage
He thinking bout blowing brain
Okay, fast forward
On the flip
Wodie fresh out back in the trenches with a grip with a stick
Tryna get back for the hit
He tell his bro spin the car ready to take that risk
It is what is
In the trenches he a superstar
Blockbaby he hop in the car
Gloves on masked up intoxicated
His bro gave him the drop
They pull up to the spot
Ayo bro cut the lights
Keep that shit drive
But what he don't know it was his homie the whole time
He got out the car
Look over his shoulder and seen the flash bang from the 9ine
Lyrics submitted by Major Valor
It's Okay Lyrics as written by James Stewart Jr.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
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.