"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.
Gotta do it for the ladies
But I gotta keep it hood
Where we at, Polow? (Ayy)
I see you, Ryan
Yo, Keith, you was right
But we just gettin' started
Yeah, man
You say you're searching for somebody that'll take you out and do you right
Well, come here, baby, and let daddy show you what it feel like
You know all you gotta do is tell me what you sippin' on (sippin' on, ayy, ayy)
And I promise that I'm gonna keep it comin' all night long
Lookin' in your eyes while you on the other side (ayy)
And I think that, shawty, I got a thing for you, yeah
Doin' it on purpose, windin' and workin' it
I can tell by the way, you lookin' at me, girl
I wanna make love in this club (ayy) (wanna make love)
In this club (ayy) (yeah)
In this club (ayy) (oh, I)
In this club (ayy)
I wanna make love in this club (ayy) (make love)
In this club (ayy) (in this club)
In this club (ayy) (yeah)
In this club, yeah
Listen, if you got some friends rollin' with you, baby, then that's cool
You can leave 'em with my homies, let 'em know that I got you (ayy, hey, hey)
If you didn't know, you're the only thing that's on my mind
'Cause the way I'm staring at you got me wanna give it to you all night
Lookin' in your eyes while you on the other side
I can't take it no more, baby, I'm coming for you
You keep doin' it on purpose, windin' and workin' it
If we close our eyes, it could just be me and you
I wanna make love in this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy)
I wanna make love in this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy) (in this club)
In this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy)
I wanna make love in this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy) (ayy, yeah)
In this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy) (ayy, I wanna make love)
I wanna make love in this club (ayy) (make love, alright)
In this club (ayy) (Polow, you a fool for this one, homie)
In this club (ayy)
In this club, yeah (yeah, let's go)
I'm what you want (I'm what you want)
I'm what you need (I'm what you need)
He got you trapped (he got you trapped)
I'll set you free
Sexually, mentally, physically, emotionally (ayy)
I'll be like your medicine
You'll take every dose of me
It's going down on aisle three
I'll bag you like some groceries (woo)
And every time you think about it
You gon' want some more of me (yeah)
'Bout to hit the club, make a movie, yeah, rated R
Pulled up like a trap star, that's if you had your regular car
You ever ever made love to a thug in the club with his ice on?
87 Jeans and a fresh pair of Nikes on (yeah)
On the couch, on the table, on the bar, or on the floor (oh)
You can meet me in the bathroom (oh whoa)
Yeah, you know I'm trained to go
Might as well give me a kiss
If we keep touchin' like this
I know you're scared, baby, they don't know what we doin'
Let's both get undressed right here
Keep it up, girl, and I swear
I'ma give it to you non-stop
And I don't care who's watchin', watchin', watchin'
Watchin', watchin', oh, in this club
On the floor, baby, let's make love
I wanna make love in this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy) (in this club)
In this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy) (make love)
I wanna make love in this club (ayy) (yeah)
In this club (ayy) (in this club)
In this club (ayy) (lovin' in this, love in this club)
In this club, yeah
Ayy, yeah
Ayy, ayy
In the car, girl, in the club
What you want, can you freak me, babe? (Ayy)
In the back (ayy), on the side (ayy)
In the front (ayy), left, right (ayy, ayy)
Crank that back, back (ayy), yeah
But I gotta keep it hood
Where we at, Polow? (Ayy)
I see you, Ryan
Yo, Keith, you was right
But we just gettin' started
Yeah, man
You say you're searching for somebody that'll take you out and do you right
Well, come here, baby, and let daddy show you what it feel like
You know all you gotta do is tell me what you sippin' on (sippin' on, ayy, ayy)
And I promise that I'm gonna keep it comin' all night long
Lookin' in your eyes while you on the other side (ayy)
And I think that, shawty, I got a thing for you, yeah
Doin' it on purpose, windin' and workin' it
I can tell by the way, you lookin' at me, girl
I wanna make love in this club (ayy) (wanna make love)
In this club (ayy) (yeah)
In this club (ayy) (oh, I)
In this club (ayy)
I wanna make love in this club (ayy) (make love)
In this club (ayy) (in this club)
In this club (ayy) (yeah)
In this club, yeah
Listen, if you got some friends rollin' with you, baby, then that's cool
You can leave 'em with my homies, let 'em know that I got you (ayy, hey, hey)
If you didn't know, you're the only thing that's on my mind
'Cause the way I'm staring at you got me wanna give it to you all night
Lookin' in your eyes while you on the other side
I can't take it no more, baby, I'm coming for you
You keep doin' it on purpose, windin' and workin' it
If we close our eyes, it could just be me and you
I wanna make love in this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy)
I wanna make love in this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy) (in this club)
In this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy)
I wanna make love in this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy) (ayy, yeah)
In this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy) (ayy, I wanna make love)
I wanna make love in this club (ayy) (make love, alright)
In this club (ayy) (Polow, you a fool for this one, homie)
In this club (ayy)
In this club, yeah (yeah, let's go)
I'm what you want (I'm what you want)
I'm what you need (I'm what you need)
He got you trapped (he got you trapped)
I'll set you free
Sexually, mentally, physically, emotionally (ayy)
I'll be like your medicine
You'll take every dose of me
It's going down on aisle three
I'll bag you like some groceries (woo)
And every time you think about it
You gon' want some more of me (yeah)
'Bout to hit the club, make a movie, yeah, rated R
Pulled up like a trap star, that's if you had your regular car
You ever ever made love to a thug in the club with his ice on?
87 Jeans and a fresh pair of Nikes on (yeah)
On the couch, on the table, on the bar, or on the floor (oh)
You can meet me in the bathroom (oh whoa)
Yeah, you know I'm trained to go
Might as well give me a kiss
If we keep touchin' like this
I know you're scared, baby, they don't know what we doin'
Let's both get undressed right here
Keep it up, girl, and I swear
I'ma give it to you non-stop
And I don't care who's watchin', watchin', watchin'
Watchin', watchin', oh, in this club
On the floor, baby, let's make love
I wanna make love in this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy) (in this club)
In this club (ayy)
In this club (ayy) (make love)
I wanna make love in this club (ayy) (yeah)
In this club (ayy) (in this club)
In this club (ayy) (lovin' in this, love in this club)
In this club, yeah
Ayy, yeah
Ayy, ayy
In the car, girl, in the club
What you want, can you freak me, babe? (Ayy)
In the back (ayy), on the side (ayy)
In the front (ayy), left, right (ayy, ayy)
Crank that back, back (ayy), yeah
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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."
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.
Yo homefuck, I'd hit that