"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 are you waiting for?
Nobody's gonna show you how
Why work for someone else
To do what you can do right now?
Got no boundaries and no limits
If there's excitement, put me in it
If it's against the law, arrest me
If you can handle it, undress me
Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
They say that a good thing never lasts
And then it has to fall
Those are the the people that did not
Amount to much at all
Give me the bass line and I'll shake it
Give me a record and I'll break it
There's no beginning and no ending
Give me a chance to go and I'll take it
Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
Watch this
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it
To the left, to the right (get stupid, get stupid)
To the left, to the right (get stupid, don't stop it)
To the left, to the right (get stupid, get stupid)
To the left, to the right (get stupid, don't stop it)
To the left, left, right, right (get stupid, get stupid)
Left, left, right, right (get stupid, don't stop it)
Left, left, right, right (get stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid)
Left, left, right, right (stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid)
Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
You're only here to win
Get what they say?
You're only here to win
Get what they do?
They'd do it too
If they were you
You done it all before
It ain't nothing new
You're only here to win
Get what they say?
You're only here to win
Get what they do?
They'd do it too
If they were you
You done it all before
It ain't nothing new
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
Give it to me
Nobody's gonna show you how
Why work for someone else
To do what you can do right now?
Got no boundaries and no limits
If there's excitement, put me in it
If it's against the law, arrest me
If you can handle it, undress me
Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
They say that a good thing never lasts
And then it has to fall
Those are the the people that did not
Amount to much at all
Give me the bass line and I'll shake it
Give me a record and I'll break it
There's no beginning and no ending
Give me a chance to go and I'll take it
Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
Watch this
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it
To the left, to the right (get stupid, get stupid)
To the left, to the right (get stupid, don't stop it)
To the left, to the right (get stupid, get stupid)
To the left, to the right (get stupid, don't stop it)
To the left, left, right, right (get stupid, get stupid)
Left, left, right, right (get stupid, don't stop it)
Left, left, right, right (get stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid)
Left, left, right, right (stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid)
Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
You're only here to win
Get what they say?
You're only here to win
Get what they do?
They'd do it too
If they were you
You done it all before
It ain't nothing new
You're only here to win
Get what they say?
You're only here to win
Get what they do?
They'd do it too
If they were you
You done it all before
It ain't nothing new
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
Give it to me
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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."
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.
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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
This, to me, is about masturbating.
I mean come on:
"What are you waiting for? Nobody's gonna show you how Why work for someone else To do what you can do right now?"
In her interview she said that the line "give it to me" means just come and fight me, try to punch me with all power you have. The whole boxing theme on the album comes from that too.
Greeeeeeeat to dance!! Dont Need to stop me now/ Dont need to catch my breath". message is "do it yourself!!!
uh... she wants to be f**ked in a shiny and new way?
i won't even lie, i hate the original of this song, but i have the most kick ass remix of it that literally completes my life. :D
i think that this song rocks... it gets me moving and that is what music is for. thanks madonna i heart you and your beautiful self!
Firstly this is an extraordinary pop song to achieve after a half century of life. Perfect, hip, engaging, and as compelling as a pop song could possibly be. However the last verses are remarkable. They are nothing less than a revelation of the formula that propelled her to success and furthermore Madonna generously shares it. You've done it all before is complex but let's just leave it as a remarkable song of encouragement whatever pursuit one dreams of achieving.
Awesome. And wnile this is a purely subjective understanding that I've never preveiously felt inclined to share with any other artist over their work. Hit me if I'm wrong.
Undeniable! Her lyrics are so true and inspiring! DIY. Carpe Diem. Go for the win.