"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.
You keep playing me like a fruit machine
Puttin' in change systematically
Winning streak that you had over me
It's turned into your broken tragedy
Turn your pockets out onto the street
Now you see you've spent it all on me!
You see my true colors out of sync
Now your skin is a pair of sympathies
You've hit the bottom one hundred times before
Now feel the fever as I leave you wanting more
You thought you could turn and walk away
Taking chances that weren't yours to take
Well I don't think so my foolish boy
Watch the next one taking all the joy
Hold me, nudge me, spinning me around
Where's the money?
Can't hear the clinking round.
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
You keep playing me like a fruit machine
Overstretch your generosity
For our band, it's leading you astray
The little we had
You've thrown it all away!
Go! Go! Go! (Yeah you're on a role)
Go! Go! Go! (Yeah you're on a low)
Go! Go! Go!
You find it hard to stop it yeah
You're running like a steam train
Oh I like the way that you do that
Where's the money?
Can't hear the clinking round.
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
Go!
You-keep-play-ing-me-like-a-fruit-mach-ine
You-keep-play-ing-me-like-a-fruit-mach-ine
You-keep-play-ing-me-like-a-fruit-mach-ine
You-keep-play-ing-me-like-a-fruit-mach-ine
Ker-ching, Ker-ching, oh!
Ker-ching, Ker-ching
Ker-ching, Ker-ching
Oh, you find it hard to stop it yeah
You're running like a steam train
Ker-ching, Ker-ching
Ker-ching, Ker-ching
You-keep-playing-me-like-a-fruit-mach-ine!
Puttin' in change systematically
Winning streak that you had over me
It's turned into your broken tragedy
Turn your pockets out onto the street
Now you see you've spent it all on me!
You see my true colors out of sync
Now your skin is a pair of sympathies
You've hit the bottom one hundred times before
Now feel the fever as I leave you wanting more
You thought you could turn and walk away
Taking chances that weren't yours to take
Well I don't think so my foolish boy
Watch the next one taking all the joy
Hold me, nudge me, spinning me around
Where's the money?
Can't hear the clinking round.
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
You keep playing me like a fruit machine
Overstretch your generosity
For our band, it's leading you astray
The little we had
You've thrown it all away!
Go! Go! Go! (Yeah you're on a role)
Go! Go! Go! (Yeah you're on a low)
Go! Go! Go!
You find it hard to stop it yeah
You're running like a steam train
Oh I like the way that you do that
Where's the money?
Can't hear the clinking round.
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
Ka-ching, Ka-ching
Go!
You-keep-play-ing-me-like-a-fruit-mach-ine
You-keep-play-ing-me-like-a-fruit-mach-ine
You-keep-play-ing-me-like-a-fruit-mach-ine
You-keep-play-ing-me-like-a-fruit-mach-ine
Ker-ching, Ker-ching, oh!
Ker-ching, Ker-ching
Ker-ching, Ker-ching
Oh, you find it hard to stop it yeah
You're running like a steam train
Ker-ching, Ker-ching
Ker-ching, Ker-ching
You-keep-playing-me-like-a-fruit-mach-ine!
Lyrics submitted by greynostalgia
Fruit Machine Lyrics as written by Jules De Martino Katie White
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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,
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.
Funny and catchy would be best to describe it. It's also an interesting metaphor for a tired relationship where the guy took the girl for granted but now that he actually cares or wants more she's moved on.
Rock on Ting Tings.