"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.
I'm standing on the edge of the industry
Wondering if it's all that important to me
To get my records back out there on the streets
It ain't like I'm hurting or anything
I'm to the point right now where money ain't an issue
I can roll where I want to, do what I want to do
Tempted to leave it in my rear-view
Because this game ain't what I'm used to
[Chorus]
Should I go?
Should I stay?
I'm in control either way
Should I go?
Should I stay?
I'm in control either way
Should I go?
Should I stay?
I'm in control either way
Should I go?
Should I stay?
I'm in control either way
It used to be a few artists at a time
Now, even the veterans wait in line
Pre-mature release of these albums online
Making it hard for real entertainers to shine
If you manage to defeat all these odds against you
Keep doing your thing 'cause I'm not mad at you
Just trying to figure out where I fit into
All of this now, or if I do
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
This industry was more like a different world
When it was just me, Monica, and Babygirl
Aaliyah, I never got to tell you how much you meant
I wish you and me both was sitting here working with Tim
Just to be in the presence of people that you affected on a personal level
Just makes me stop for a second (pause & exhale)
You were such a blessing
You only answered one of my questions
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Well, I gave it some time
And I made up my mind
Move over, this is my time
Be, Rocka's back on the grind
[Chorus]
Wondering if it's all that important to me
To get my records back out there on the streets
It ain't like I'm hurting or anything
I'm to the point right now where money ain't an issue
I can roll where I want to, do what I want to do
Tempted to leave it in my rear-view
Because this game ain't what I'm used to
[Chorus]
Should I go?
Should I stay?
I'm in control either way
Should I go?
Should I stay?
I'm in control either way
Should I go?
Should I stay?
I'm in control either way
Should I go?
Should I stay?
I'm in control either way
It used to be a few artists at a time
Now, even the veterans wait in line
Pre-mature release of these albums online
Making it hard for real entertainers to shine
If you manage to defeat all these odds against you
Keep doing your thing 'cause I'm not mad at you
Just trying to figure out where I fit into
All of this now, or if I do
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
This industry was more like a different world
When it was just me, Monica, and Babygirl
Aaliyah, I never got to tell you how much you meant
I wish you and me both was sitting here working with Tim
Just to be in the presence of people that you affected on a personal level
Just makes me stop for a second (pause & exhale)
You were such a blessing
You only answered one of my questions
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Well, I gave it some time
And I made up my mind
Move over, this is my time
Be, Rocka's back on the grind
[Chorus]
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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 so cool that she sampled Coldplay's "Clocks". She's obviously contemplating finishing her career as an artist and quitting or whatever. And that she mentions Aaliyah and them is pretty awesome too. =]
I love this song! im guna keep it 100. 0tha wordz she sees h0w deese wak artists cumin 0ut dont no n0thn b0ut REAL musik bak b4 da 2000s musik acualy had a meaning! She also mentions monica and my 4eva fave singer Aaliyah. shes working wit tim wishing aaliyah can w0rk wit dem b0th t00! very few REAL artists (lyk mariah carey 4 example) can overshine da fake no gud 1s we hav 2day. lyk n0w a song culd b made 0ut of n ny thang! akeys,ginuwine,brandy,ne-yo,jennifer huds0n,mc are da only h0pes 4 savn rnb! hiph0ps help is t00 late.