"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.
Dust dust dust dust
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
I was snow white til I started to drift
Baby I didn't care, til I saw you there
And your manner made my animal kick
But I just didn't dare
Call me crazy yeah
Everything I ever had to lose
Is standing in the way of me and you
Panic built these walls in front of me
And nothing but my head can set me free
Man get up
We're gonna start this fire
Tangled up
Because I know I should
Can't get up
Watch the flames go higher
Tangled up
We're gonna need more wood
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
Dust dust dust dust
I'll confess I'm in a real big mess
With the guy I love but I can't say yes
Now my only bet is take a plane ride west
Cause I can't regret what I ain't done yet
Man get up
We're gonna start this fire
Tangled up
Because I know I should
Can't get up
Watch the flames go higher
Tangled up
We're gonna need more wood
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
Man with the chemical stare, hands off
Guy with the terrible hair, back off
Dude with the look in your eye, leave it
Man with the beautiful ride, beat it
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
I was snow white til I started to drift
Baby I didn't care, til I saw you there
And your manner made my animal kick
But I just didn't dare
Call me crazy yeah
Everything I ever had to lose
Is standing in the way of me and you
Panic built these walls in front of me
And nothing but my head can set me free
Man get up
We're gonna start this fire
Tangled up
Because I know I should
Can't get up
Watch the flames go higher
Tangled up
We're gonna need more wood
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
Dust dust dust dust
I'll confess I'm in a real big mess
With the guy I love but I can't say yes
Now my only bet is take a plane ride west
Cause I can't regret what I ain't done yet
Man get up
We're gonna start this fire
Tangled up
Because I know I should
Can't get up
Watch the flames go higher
Tangled up
We're gonna need more wood
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I could not make the deal
Got so close to love
I can almost taste the kill
Barely close enough
But I just can't close the deal
Man with the chemical stare, hands off
Guy with the terrible hair, back off
Dude with the look in your eye, leave it
Man with the beautiful ride, beat it
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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.
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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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
i think it's 'guy with the CHEMICAL stare' and 'man with the beautiful RIDE'.
Killstar, you're rubbish... more corrections:
Got so close to love I can almost taste the kill BARELY close ENOUGH But I COULD NOT make a deal
I was SNOW WHITE 'til I started to drift Baby I didn't care, 'til I saw you there
Panic BUILT THESE walls in front of me And nothing but my heart can set me free
MAN GET up We're gonna start this fire
I CONFESS I'M in a real big mess With the guy I love but I can't say yes
Oh and as above...
no, i think it's definitely "I was no one till I started to drift"
MY FAVORITE GIRLS ALOUD SONG EVER! it's so fucken good. especially the bridge, (i confess i'm in a real big mess etc), best part!!!.
no it's Snow White, it says so in the lyrics booklet.
Cheryl: I love the lyrics to this song. 'I've got so close to love, I can almost taste the kill.' It's a strong song and I think it will be a really great one to perform next year on tour.
Source: Girls Aloud official site
I watched the live performance of this on youtube and loved it! I wish I lived in the UK so I could see them live, they seem so fun and give a really great show, especially Sarah. The live version sounds better to me, especially Nicola's part. I love that part too (I confess I'm in a real big mess...) it is the best part