"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.
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me,
But I don't live in there no more.
There's a place in my head
That repeats what you said,
That repeats what you said that day.
You're afraid the mistakes that you made
Dug your grave but baby,
That's the price you pay.
So don't shut down
This town, ain't big enough for both of us, whoa.
And now I've found
You'll never get enough from me,
So, baby, I'm a set you free,
Yeah I'm a set you free.
[Chorus:]
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me,
But I don't live in there no more.
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me (closing in),
But I don't live in there no more.
I been trying to relate to
All the things that make you
Act the crazy ways you do (you do)
But that will take patience and headaches
To make sense
Some the things you put me through
So don't shut down
This town, ain't big enough for both of us, whoa
And now I've found
You'll never get enough from me
So, baby, I'm a set you free,
Yeah, I'm a set you free
[Chorus:]
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me,
But I don't live in there no more.
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me (closing in)
But I don't live in there no more (no more)
[Bridge: x2]
All the pictures and the windows on the wall
Are closing in on me
I thought that you're suppose to learn from
What went wrong in history.
So you keep doing everything you can
And never will get to me.
I bet you remember the day you were better
As soon as we severed
And you were free
[Chorus:]
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me (closing in)
But I don't live in there no more (no more)
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me (closing in)
But I don't live in there no more (no more)
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, Whoa [x4]
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me,
But I don't live in there no more.
There's a place in my head
That repeats what you said,
That repeats what you said that day.
You're afraid the mistakes that you made
Dug your grave but baby,
That's the price you pay.
So don't shut down
This town, ain't big enough for both of us, whoa.
And now I've found
You'll never get enough from me,
So, baby, I'm a set you free,
Yeah I'm a set you free.
[Chorus:]
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me,
But I don't live in there no more.
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me (closing in),
But I don't live in there no more.
I been trying to relate to
All the things that make you
Act the crazy ways you do (you do)
But that will take patience and headaches
To make sense
Some the things you put me through
So don't shut down
This town, ain't big enough for both of us, whoa
And now I've found
You'll never get enough from me
So, baby, I'm a set you free,
Yeah, I'm a set you free
[Chorus:]
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me,
But I don't live in there no more.
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me (closing in)
But I don't live in there no more (no more)
[Bridge: x2]
All the pictures and the windows on the wall
Are closing in on me
I thought that you're suppose to learn from
What went wrong in history.
So you keep doing everything you can
And never will get to me.
I bet you remember the day you were better
As soon as we severed
And you were free
[Chorus:]
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me (closing in)
But I don't live in there no more (no more)
Who-ooh-ooh-ooh are you anyways?
I can't count how many days you weren't here.
The walls were closing in on me (closing in)
But I don't live in there no more (no more)
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, Whoa [x4]
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
You're all stupid. The Mixed Tape sounds nothing like Still Around. Still Around is a great song.
definitely agree with this. i listened to the mixed tape and was like wtf. what does this have anything to do with still around?? lol
I definately do not see the connection...I like both songs! And if it really is insulting another band that has been around for awhile, then my respect level for them is low :/
thank you! i've been trying to figure out the connection too, and felt stupid because everyons like "oh is obvi making fun of JM." um... no.
There is no connection at all, that's what I thought
To me, it has to do with the person wanting to be with his significant other as much as he can, while she's still around. Woo, 3oh!3, this song really is beautiful
And I'm pretty sure it's "WHILE she's still around..."
I agree with ELELELIEN. i think it's while not when, and i thought this song was serious): until i looked at the comments about jack's mannequin and then it made sense.... ahaha, wow i'm dumb. i thoughht this song sounded familiar but i wasn't fer sure.
anyone else note the allusion to daniel johnston? deviltown
um yeah how is this making fun of jacks mannequin? the mixed tape sounds nothing like it. either way, i love this song because it reminds me of the guy i love, who's a senior graduating this june. so yeah, i'll only be happy "WHILE" he's still around :)
theres 2 things this song could mean
hes an alcoholic and his gf is leaving him and hes tryin to explain that he loves her and wants to be able to be sober while shes still around so he can see her clearly. and that there are demons in this world that some may never understand until they "close the final curtain".
his gf died. and yet its like theres a ghost of her with him. he wants to be able to see her one more time while she was still around. it devasted everyone "im drunk and so is everyone else in this devil town". and because of this he wont stop drinking because he learned life is too uncertain and scary for him. everyone around him is gone "this city's just cemetaries and forgotten".
idk just a guess..lol i tried
why doesn't 3OH!3 have more songs like this fbgnjfgnbcxvjk. this is fucking amazing. it's so pretty and awesome. they're wasting time talking about bitches with the huge tits when they could be sooooooo famous by making more songs like this.
i like. (:
This reminds me of someone in my life who I can't be with in a "real" relationship with. We see each other all over the place, and are friends. The attraction is so strong; we share an uncanny-strong bond that just lights up a room whenever our eyes lock. The sadness spawns from the fact that we can't be together, which leads us to drink and act up in front of each other, and everyone else; Making us look like assholes in front of our friends, who really don't want us together.
I agree, I listened to The Mix Tape, they sound nothing alike, chorus SLIGHTLY, but there are PLENTY of songs I can think of that sound slightly, and I mean SLIGHTLY, the same. Great song, one of their best I'd say. ^.^
Whoever said it sounds like the mixed tape is retarded...its sounds exactly like "kill the messenger" by jacks mannequin.....COME ON PEOPLE
fuck it, who cares? this song is still nice