"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.
Just to think about it,
I would do things that I would regret (trying to get you to)
To understand how I felt for you
I tried real hard time and time again but I
Didn't know my love wouldn't grow, I should of just let it go
But I, stayed around thinking you would learn to love
And we both know you're wrong
There's nothing you can do, to ever undo what you've done to me
I loved you, deep in my heart I know you couldn't love me
But baby I just kept holding on, I should of let you go
Should of let you go
I should of let you go
You know I should of let you go
Couldn't do without it, I felt I needed you in my world (to get me by, by)
More and more I looked out for you, you tried to play me like a fool so I
Didn't care that love wasn't there, had to just let it go
Couldn't stay around, thinking you would learn to love
And we both know you're wrong
There's nothing you can do, to ever undo what you've done to me
I loved you, deep in my heart I know you couldn't love me
But baby I just kept holding on, I should of let you go
Should of let you go
I should of let you go
You know I should of let you go
And now I'm gone, plus I'd rather be alone
We both grown, lower your tone over the phone, alright
I should of known, damn I should of known
This wouldn't last long, when you didn't come home some nights
And now I'm on, in the zone, handle business on my own
So respect the queen on the throne, alright
Here's some strong advice, move on, that's life
You wrong I'm right, and I'm glad I let you go
And we both know you're wrong
There's nothing you can do, to ever undo what you've done to me
I loved you, deep in my heart I know you couldn't love me
But baby I just kept holding on, I should of let you go
Should of let you go
I should of let you go
You know I should of let you go
Don't know why you would ever lie to me so,
But I should of let you
Don't know why I could never let you go
Could of, should of, let you
Don't know why would ever lie to me so,
But I should of let you
Don't know why I could never let you go
Could of, should of, let you
Don't know why you would ever lie to me so,
But I should of let you
Don't know why I could never let you go
Could of, should of, let you
I would do things that I would regret (trying to get you to)
To understand how I felt for you
I tried real hard time and time again but I
Didn't know my love wouldn't grow, I should of just let it go
But I, stayed around thinking you would learn to love
And we both know you're wrong
There's nothing you can do, to ever undo what you've done to me
I loved you, deep in my heart I know you couldn't love me
But baby I just kept holding on, I should of let you go
Should of let you go
I should of let you go
You know I should of let you go
Couldn't do without it, I felt I needed you in my world (to get me by, by)
More and more I looked out for you, you tried to play me like a fool so I
Didn't care that love wasn't there, had to just let it go
Couldn't stay around, thinking you would learn to love
And we both know you're wrong
There's nothing you can do, to ever undo what you've done to me
I loved you, deep in my heart I know you couldn't love me
But baby I just kept holding on, I should of let you go
Should of let you go
I should of let you go
You know I should of let you go
And now I'm gone, plus I'd rather be alone
We both grown, lower your tone over the phone, alright
I should of known, damn I should of known
This wouldn't last long, when you didn't come home some nights
And now I'm on, in the zone, handle business on my own
So respect the queen on the throne, alright
Here's some strong advice, move on, that's life
You wrong I'm right, and I'm glad I let you go
And we both know you're wrong
There's nothing you can do, to ever undo what you've done to me
I loved you, deep in my heart I know you couldn't love me
But baby I just kept holding on, I should of let you go
Should of let you go
I should of let you go
You know I should of let you go
Don't know why you would ever lie to me so,
But I should of let you
Don't know why I could never let you go
Could of, should of, let you
Don't know why would ever lie to me so,
But I should of let you
Don't know why I could never let you go
Could of, should of, let you
Don't know why you would ever lie to me so,
But I should of let you
Don't know why I could never let you go
Could of, should of, let you
Lyrics submitted by bugmenot123
Shoulda Let You Go Lyrics as written by Rodney Jerkins Keyshia Cole
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., SPIRIT TWO SMA, Hipgnosis Songs Group
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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”
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Means a lot! Love it!
Whenever I hear this song I always think about a girl who doesn't know her guy is a superhero. As much as he wants to tell her what he's been up to, he can't because it would put her safety at risk. From her perspective she's really hurting because of how distant and 'unfeeling' she thinks he is. She has tried to trust him and believe that he is a good man but the deception and stress of saving the world on a daily basis becomes too much for her and their relationship. So, she leaves him, to his deep regret, never knowing the real reason he is.