"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.
Let's begin at the beginning
We're lovers and we're losers
We're heroes and we're pioneers
We're beggars and we're choosers
Skirting round the edges of the ideal demographic
We're almost on the guestlist
But we're always stuck in traffic
We've watched our close associates
Up and play their parts
They're chatting up the it girls
And they're tearing up the charts
While we were paying with coppers
To get our round in at the bar
We're the C-Team, we're the almost famous
Old friends of the stars
Justin is the last
Of the great romantic poets
And he's the only one among us
Who is ever going to make it
We planned a revolution
From a cheap Southampton bistro
I don't remember details
But there were English boys with banjos
Jay is our St. George, and he's standing on a wooden chair
And he sings songs and he slays dragons, and he's losing all his hair
And Adam is the resurrected spirit of Gram Parsons
In plaid instead of rhinestone and living in South London
And no one's really clear about Tommy's job description
But it's pretty clear he's vital to the whole damn operation
And Dave Danger smiles at strangers, Tre's the safest girl I know
And Zo and Harps will skamper up to victory in the city we call home
We won't change our ways, we will proud remain when the glory fades
When the glory fades, yeah
I am sick and tired of people
Who are living on the B-List
Yeah, they're waiting to be famous
And they're wondering why they do this
And I know I'm not the one who is habitually optimistic
But I'm the one who's got the microphone here, so just remember this
Yeah, well, life is about love, last minutes and lost evenings
About fire in our bellies and furtive little feelings
And the aching amplitudes that set our needles all a-flickering
And help us with remembering that the only thing that's left to do is live
Yeah, the only thing that's left to do is live
After all of the loving and the losing
For the heroes and the pioneers
The only thing that's left to do
Is get another round in at the bar
We're lovers and we're losers
We're heroes and we're pioneers
We're beggars and we're choosers
Skirting round the edges of the ideal demographic
We're almost on the guestlist
But we're always stuck in traffic
We've watched our close associates
Up and play their parts
They're chatting up the it girls
And they're tearing up the charts
While we were paying with coppers
To get our round in at the bar
We're the C-Team, we're the almost famous
Old friends of the stars
Justin is the last
Of the great romantic poets
And he's the only one among us
Who is ever going to make it
We planned a revolution
From a cheap Southampton bistro
I don't remember details
But there were English boys with banjos
Jay is our St. George, and he's standing on a wooden chair
And he sings songs and he slays dragons, and he's losing all his hair
And Adam is the resurrected spirit of Gram Parsons
In plaid instead of rhinestone and living in South London
And no one's really clear about Tommy's job description
But it's pretty clear he's vital to the whole damn operation
And Dave Danger smiles at strangers, Tre's the safest girl I know
And Zo and Harps will skamper up to victory in the city we call home
We won't change our ways, we will proud remain when the glory fades
When the glory fades, yeah
I am sick and tired of people
Who are living on the B-List
Yeah, they're waiting to be famous
And they're wondering why they do this
And I know I'm not the one who is habitually optimistic
But I'm the one who's got the microphone here, so just remember this
Yeah, well, life is about love, last minutes and lost evenings
About fire in our bellies and furtive little feelings
And the aching amplitudes that set our needles all a-flickering
And help us with remembering that the only thing that's left to do is live
Yeah, the only thing that's left to do is live
After all of the loving and the losing
For the heroes and the pioneers
The only thing that's left to do
Is get another round in at the bar
Lyrics submitted by simon_quine, edited by bivwhat
I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous Lyrics as written by Francis Edward Turner
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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
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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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/
I think the song is a protest against the celebrity culture that we're living in, and a recommendation to notice the little but utterly beautiful things in life: the last minutes; the lost evenings; the furtive little feelings. One doesn't have to be to be famous or successful in order to live well, we can be lovers, we can be losers, we can be beggers and choosers. The good and the bad is what makes up our lives, you can't have one without the other.
Despite just about having the money to pay for a round of drinks, we're still poets, patron saints, and revolutionaries. We don't need to be striving for success, prestige or celebrity status, we're brave enough to live our lives fully, to have the courage to stick our necks out and do what we love despite the fact that we might fail. And while we're living in this honest, authentic way, the only real thing that's left to do is live.