"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.
Don't treat yourself like this
You're walking crazy and drugged out of your mind
I think it's time to find a new high
What can you say for yourself?
A traitor who sells herself short
You're nothing but a fake
We're cleaning up
Attention is for those who wait for it
Oh, we wait for it
Let's dispose our fear with all these desperate attempts
That we would crash 'til we love ourselves
It's time for believing
It takes its toll, when we take less we get more
I know, I know things get so difficult
But I've seen what you can do
I've seen what you can do
Don't give up on me just yet
Well I've got more vices than you could imagine
We're cleaning up
Attention is for those who wait for it
Oh, we wait for it
Let's dispose our fear with all these desperate attempts
That we would crash 'til we love ourselves
It's time for believing
It takes its toll, when we take less we get more
I've got only eyes for you
I've got only eyes for you
I spend all my time here waiting
But she's not coming back so it's time we let this die
We watch the world set fire
We watch the world set fire
Let's dispose our fear with all these desperate attempts
That we would crash 'til we love ourselves
It's time for believing
It takes its toll, when we take less we get more
You're walking crazy and drugged out of your mind
I think it's time to find a new high
What can you say for yourself?
A traitor who sells herself short
You're nothing but a fake
We're cleaning up
Attention is for those who wait for it
Oh, we wait for it
Let's dispose our fear with all these desperate attempts
That we would crash 'til we love ourselves
It's time for believing
It takes its toll, when we take less we get more
I know, I know things get so difficult
But I've seen what you can do
I've seen what you can do
Don't give up on me just yet
Well I've got more vices than you could imagine
We're cleaning up
Attention is for those who wait for it
Oh, we wait for it
Let's dispose our fear with all these desperate attempts
That we would crash 'til we love ourselves
It's time for believing
It takes its toll, when we take less we get more
I've got only eyes for you
I've got only eyes for you
I spend all my time here waiting
But she's not coming back so it's time we let this die
We watch the world set fire
We watch the world set fire
Let's dispose our fear with all these desperate attempts
That we would crash 'til we love ourselves
It's time for believing
It takes its toll, when we take less we get more
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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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
I think its about a girl who is a druggy and hes telling her to try and give it up for him....and hes telling her hes not perfect either and he knows how hard it is.
And at the end when he says I've got only eyes for you i think it means the song title..Shes pretty but ugly on the inside?
Sick song tho
i think your partly right kpeezy, but the end bit "ive got only eyes for you" i think he means he loves her so much he cant bare to see her killing herself with the drugs, to his eyes shes pretty, perfect, but this habit turns her ugly
but yeah amazing song