"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.
What is it, I don't remember
Made my being so much better
If I can have just one pure thought
What is it, I don't remember
Made my being so much better
If I can have just one pure thought
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
(There is no other way out)
I won't be on my way
I'll help you on your way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
(There is no other way out)
I won't be on my way
There's nothing more to say
So far, as you've seen
We've been the hardest team
To bear arms since Arnold Rogers was an island tree
And although the macarena has entirely been
I believe you will appreciate the rest of this dream
I got some lost damn feeling
Like I'm feeling in threat
I was the child in the forest
With the bones and the bread
I was a train at the point
Where the rail-road ends
Trying to roll across sound
On your steam in my hands
It was a trip that wouldn't wanna take again
It is a trip that I thought would never end
It was a trip that wouldn't wanna take again
It is a trip that I thought would never end
What is it, I don't remember
Made my being so much better
If I can have just one pure thought
What is it, I don't remember
Made my being so much better
If I can have just one pure thought
What is it, I don't remember
Made my feeling so much better
If I can have just one pure thought
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I'll help you on your way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I'll help you on my way
There is nothing more to say
Made my being so much better
If I can have just one pure thought
What is it, I don't remember
Made my being so much better
If I can have just one pure thought
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
(There is no other way out)
I won't be on my way
I'll help you on your way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
(There is no other way out)
I won't be on my way
There's nothing more to say
So far, as you've seen
We've been the hardest team
To bear arms since Arnold Rogers was an island tree
And although the macarena has entirely been
I believe you will appreciate the rest of this dream
I got some lost damn feeling
Like I'm feeling in threat
I was the child in the forest
With the bones and the bread
I was a train at the point
Where the rail-road ends
Trying to roll across sound
On your steam in my hands
It was a trip that wouldn't wanna take again
It is a trip that I thought would never end
It was a trip that wouldn't wanna take again
It is a trip that I thought would never end
What is it, I don't remember
Made my being so much better
If I can have just one pure thought
What is it, I don't remember
Made my being so much better
If I can have just one pure thought
What is it, I don't remember
Made my feeling so much better
If I can have just one pure thought
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I'll help you on your way
I won't be on my way
I won't be on my way
I'll help you on my way
There is nothing more to say
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
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.
I love the sounds in this song.