"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.
How you are my hero
How your never here though
Remember times when you put me on your shoulders
How I wish it was forever you would hold us
Right now I'm too young to know
How in the future it will affect me when you go
You could have had it all
You, me, and mum you know
Anything was possible
I wont be the lonely one
Sitting on my own and sad
A fifty year old
Reminiscing what I had
I wont be the lonely one
Sitting on my own and sad
Forget your dad, he's gone
All I wanted was a kick-a-bout in the park
For you to race me home when it was nearly getting dark
How I could've been yours, and you be mine
It could've been me and you until the end of time
Do what you want, when you want
Be as fucking insincere as you can
What kind of way is that to treat your wife
To see your son on Saturdays
What way is that to live your life?
I wont be the lonely one
Sitting on my own and sad
A fifty year old
Reminiscing what I had
I wont be the lonely one
Sitting on my own and sad
Forget your dad, he's gone
How your never here though
Remember times when you put me on your shoulders
How I wish it was forever you would hold us
Right now I'm too young to know
How in the future it will affect me when you go
You could have had it all
You, me, and mum you know
Anything was possible
I wont be the lonely one
Sitting on my own and sad
A fifty year old
Reminiscing what I had
I wont be the lonely one
Sitting on my own and sad
Forget your dad, he's gone
All I wanted was a kick-a-bout in the park
For you to race me home when it was nearly getting dark
How I could've been yours, and you be mine
It could've been me and you until the end of time
Do what you want, when you want
Be as fucking insincere as you can
What kind of way is that to treat your wife
To see your son on Saturdays
What way is that to live your life?
I wont be the lonely one
Sitting on my own and sad
A fifty year old
Reminiscing what I had
I wont be the lonely one
Sitting on my own and sad
Forget your dad, he's gone
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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”
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."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
I don't get Glasvegas at all because reading their lyrics is interesting because they are good, yet there songs sound like i am standing outside a bar and hearing a band play inside whilst the singer talks in his accent and sometimes goes fast to fit all the words in. Every review i've read though says they are amazing and incredible live yet no one i know likes them and at glastonbury we left because they have no prescence on stage.
I'm not saying i hate them but i just don't understand them or all the reviews.
Maybe i'm just missing something.
Fair enough,<br /> I seen em live in Glasgow, it must've been about February, and I swear it was one of the best gigs I ever been to! Everyone was so into the music, I'd definitely see them again, in fact I will the next chance I get! <3
I am absolutely crazy about this song. The meaning is clear enough, but two things just bowl me over about this. One is the combo of the doo-wop vocals and the surf/noise/shoegaze music (is that a genre?;)
Two, is how does someone write a song that is really an unrequited love song to his father and not come off completely maudlin and ridiculous? Well, like this I guess.
Brilliant, top to bottom.
sfair point stephen me man, but its funny thats the reason you dont like 'em, because its that exact reason i love 'em! haha Us scots love a good 'ol sing a long, upt pub with ya wee mates, ollerin out glasvegas! great crack!
the rawness is what makes this band not the talent u get good singers who sing shit songs glasvegas is one of the best wrote albums for years the writing makes up for what is lacking which is very little i saw the at leeds fest and they were quality!
OK... :) and how is that not a song of unrequited love? Don't such songs often come with a bucket of resentment? To me, it is clear as can be the boy loves his dad and he feels betrayed and abandoned. Don't mean to be argumentative, but I think that's pretty standard unrequited love song material. The typical formula is - I love you, I'd have made you happy, you done me wrong, i hope you die miserable. But however you categorize it, it really is a great song. If you get a chance, take a listen to it. You can visit the band's webpage for a link to myspace and listen to/download this and a few of their other songs. Swear I am not affilliated with the band! :) I just really love their sound.
look out for this band. this song shows just how good they are.
it is a very sad song, and the band do have a dark image. but i think thats a good refreshing change from a lot of music around at the moment. long live glasvegas.
Songyone you've articulated the meaning and magnificence of this song perfectly, thank you!
I don't mind admitting that this song very nearly brings a tear to my eye. I'm 25.
well sticky110, im 32 and it brings a tear to my eye too, so your not alone there my friend. This is a brilliant song, sung with what i could only convey as raw aggression. This is a band i think will do well, or at least i hope they will, looking at some of the crap out there.
This is probably the only song that nears me to tears. very moving, very strong, just brilliant.