"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.
Tell 'em, "Say no to drugs"
"Substances make you dumb"
Then you say, "Give 'em some"
Are you the victim
Of this experience
Child experiment
Teacher's predicament?
You're in the system
And if you don't walk the line
You can walk the plank
You older brother (government)
Wants to control your mind
You're more useful blank
[Chorus]
Medicate the kids
Feathers turn to quills
Pump 'em full of training fluids
Powders and pills
There's nothing you can't flush out
And nothing you can't kill
Why don't you just back off of us
Before we go crazy?
I'm gonna tell you,
"No way,
This ain't fair play,
Just don't medicate me"
Tell 'em, "Say no to drugs"
"Substances make you dumb"
Unless you get 'em from
Someone who loves you
One who knows best for you
Paid for those tests for you
Knows how to get you through
When it's above you
And you can't get on top
Cause it's high to climb,
You hear them saying,
"Don't make me call the cops"
Every other time
[Chorus]
Why don't you just back off of us
Before we go crazy?
I'm gonna tell you,
"No way,
This ain't fair play,
Just don't medicate me"
And there's a long line
Flowing from prescription aisles
Filed through legal means
So we can alter the child
For his protection
Tie him to extension cords,
This is the age of discipline
[Repeat x4]
Why don't you just back off of us
Before we go crazy?
"Substances make you dumb"
Then you say, "Give 'em some"
Are you the victim
Of this experience
Child experiment
Teacher's predicament?
You're in the system
And if you don't walk the line
You can walk the plank
You older brother (government)
Wants to control your mind
You're more useful blank
[Chorus]
Medicate the kids
Feathers turn to quills
Pump 'em full of training fluids
Powders and pills
There's nothing you can't flush out
And nothing you can't kill
Why don't you just back off of us
Before we go crazy?
I'm gonna tell you,
"No way,
This ain't fair play,
Just don't medicate me"
Tell 'em, "Say no to drugs"
"Substances make you dumb"
Unless you get 'em from
Someone who loves you
One who knows best for you
Paid for those tests for you
Knows how to get you through
When it's above you
And you can't get on top
Cause it's high to climb,
You hear them saying,
"Don't make me call the cops"
Every other time
[Chorus]
Why don't you just back off of us
Before we go crazy?
I'm gonna tell you,
"No way,
This ain't fair play,
Just don't medicate me"
And there's a long line
Flowing from prescription aisles
Filed through legal means
So we can alter the child
For his protection
Tie him to extension cords,
This is the age of discipline
[Repeat x4]
Why don't you just back off of us
Before we go crazy?
Lyrics submitted by restless_hearts
Medicate the Kids Lyrics as written by Gavin Degraw
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I think it's cool how Gavin's like 30 but he can still relate to kids of this generation. He says "...back of of US." It's obvious about the meaning of this song. I think the "feathers turn to quills" line is about how a feather is the beautiful, natural thing, but that's not good enough for some people. Since it has no use as just a feather, people use it as a quill. It represents the kid on medication. He's not good enough the way he is, so we have to alter him, and his personality.