"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.
Since the day that you were born the wheels are in motion
Turning ever faster
Play your part in the big machine
The stage is set, the road is chosen
You fate preordained
We are watching you, every step of the way
Never too late to stand your ground,
Revolution begins
In you, in me, revolution!
Once lost
Lost in their game
Mental chains breaking now
Set yourself free
Who are they to tell you what to do?
The stage is not set, the road is not chosen
Your fate not preordained
They are losing control, every step of the way
Never too late to stand your ground,
Revolution begins
In you, in me, revolution!
Never too late to stand your ground,
Revolution begins
In you, in me, this is revolution!
Turning ever faster
Play your part in the big machine
The stage is set, the road is chosen
You fate preordained
We are watching you, every step of the way
Never too late to stand your ground,
Revolution begins
In you, in me, revolution!
Once lost
Lost in their game
Mental chains breaking now
Set yourself free
Who are they to tell you what to do?
The stage is not set, the road is not chosen
Your fate not preordained
They are losing control, every step of the way
Never too late to stand your ground,
Revolution begins
In you, in me, revolution!
Never too late to stand your ground,
Revolution begins
In you, in me, this is revolution!
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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 this songs is about communism and conformity.. to stand up and fight to be an individual and fighting against control..as in it's your life and they have no right to tell you what you have to do and treat you like a puppet and a pawn in their game...awesome song..\m/
Agreed.
pretty straight up song
only two comments, wow , this is such a sexy song , more comments needed!!! AHH!!!love this song
This song is mental how can people not know about an comment on this song. This just proves what AR are capable of. Jus listen to that guitar riff so simple but so amazing!!!!!!!
I think we can all agree that 'REVOLUTION BEGINS, IN ME, IN YOUUUUU' WEEEOOOOEWEWEWEE MEEDLEEEMDEDLEEEYYYYYYWEOEWOEOWEO HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY DDELDLELDELDLEDLELDELDLELEDLELDELDLELWOOEEEEOEOWWWW DO DO DO DO DIDDLY DO DE DE DE DE DEEEE DEEEOOOWWWWW
So pretty much this songs about taking no crap and getting off your arse and fighting for yourself...you can be whatever you want to be, don't let other people or your own fears hold you down!
This song will definitely be remembered as a classic metal anthem cuz it's got everything a good metal song is supposed 2 have and it's about nonconformity which is the general message of metal music