"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.
Found a cure that doesn't kill
From lobotomys to a pill
Heal the mad and steal their pain
What's the industry got to gain?
If you could let me go
Or you could set me free
Then I would let you know
Of what's possessing me
And I would help you out
And I would show you the way
And you could scream and shout
Cos it would end today
Yeah
Yeah
Suicidal thoughts subside
Permanent damage to the mind
Excuse if the one we paid
"We are gonna die anyway"
Nihilistic human minds
Breaching to the end of time
Convinced that we are insane
Curable by the damaged brain.
From lobotomys to a pill
Heal the mad and steal their pain
What's the industry got to gain?
If you could let me go
Or you could set me free
Then I would let you know
Of what's possessing me
And I would help you out
And I would show you the way
And you could scream and shout
Cos it would end today
Yeah
Yeah
Suicidal thoughts subside
Permanent damage to the mind
Excuse if the one we paid
"We are gonna die anyway"
Nihilistic human minds
Breaching to the end of time
Convinced that we are insane
Curable by the damaged brain.
Lyrics submitted by Keishef
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
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,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
In the Blind booklet, it says: "This CD is dedicated to all the mentally ill people in the world... Hang on, there is still hope." Fox is a licensed Nurse, and EMT amidst other things. I think he wrote this song to further the dedication in the previous CD.
[i]Found a cure that doesn't kill From Lobotomys to a pill[/i]
The evolution of mental health "treatment"
[i]Heal the mad and steal their pan[/i]
"Mad" as in crazy, not angry.
[i]What's th industry got to gain?[/i]
Once you're cured, your cured. you don't need to see a doctor anymore, so he looses a patient, and therefore money too.
[i]If you could let me go Or you could set me free Then I would let you know Of what's possessing me And I would help you out And I would show you the way And you could scream and shout Cos it would end today[/i]
Explanation of what he is thinking probably.
[i]Suicidal thoughts subside[/i]
Taking medication
[i]Permanent damage to the mind[/i]
Side effects of the drugs
[i]Excuse if the one we paid "We are gonna die anyway"[/i]
Not something you say to a depressed person to convince them to take Prozac.
[i]Nihilistic human minds Breaching to the end of time Convinced that we are insane Curable by the damaged brain.[/i]
Self explanatory.
This one is pretty obvious