"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.
Pharrell:
I want you
Do you want me, too?
I have one question:
Can I help you?
Now watch me
And what I do
Now thank you for coming through my drive-thru
Casablancas:
When you're haunted by the demons that'll never let you rest
Not shy in front of crowds, but shy in front of just one guest
Not dumb enough to win at their game
but not smart enough to dumb it down and take it away
It's black & white like space at night
If you wanna be like us you'd better work everynight
Santogold:
One question, what's your impression?
Now with a walk like mine, I'm a big presence
So make your move real slow my mind's a weapon
I said just move real slow, no second guessing
I find your approach so adolescent
I may look young, but your game is pre-pubescent
So watch my feet I'm known for my great steppin'
You wanna keep up gotta show me somethin'
Casablancas:
Look at all the leaders over on the playground
Always being up where we could watch
(I'm goin' after you)
The answer to the question I don't understand
is the word that I am never
(I'm going after you)
And if your happiness is watching TV all night long
...? job of dealin' other people in a song
I am here to change your goals
I regret it, but they're not done
Santogold:
You wonder, oh, how do I inspire?
Got the world spinnin' 'round inside my palm
Don't hate me you know they got you wired
You better show up ...?
'Cause we all wanna dance, just wanna dance dance,
We wanna dance, just wanna dance
'Cause we all wanna dance, just wanna dance dance
We wanna dance, just wanna dance
Casablancas:
It's summer in the city
It's summer in the city
We'd like to dance, to dance with you
Don't waste your time with one or two
You time it right, the summer night
You fall in love at every light
Santogold:
You wonder, oh, how do I inspire?
Got the world spinnin' 'round inside my palm
Don't hate me, 'cause you know they got you wired
You better show up ...?
'Cause we all wanna dance, just wanna dance dance,
We wanna dance, just wanna dance
'Cause we all wanna dance, just wanna dance dance
We wanna dance, just wanna dance
I want you
Do you want me, too?
I have one question:
Can I help you?
Now watch me
And what I do
Now thank you for coming through my drive-thru
Casablancas:
When you're haunted by the demons that'll never let you rest
Not shy in front of crowds, but shy in front of just one guest
Not dumb enough to win at their game
but not smart enough to dumb it down and take it away
It's black & white like space at night
If you wanna be like us you'd better work everynight
Santogold:
One question, what's your impression?
Now with a walk like mine, I'm a big presence
So make your move real slow my mind's a weapon
I said just move real slow, no second guessing
I find your approach so adolescent
I may look young, but your game is pre-pubescent
So watch my feet I'm known for my great steppin'
You wanna keep up gotta show me somethin'
Casablancas:
Look at all the leaders over on the playground
Always being up where we could watch
(I'm goin' after you)
The answer to the question I don't understand
is the word that I am never
(I'm going after you)
And if your happiness is watching TV all night long
...? job of dealin' other people in a song
I am here to change your goals
I regret it, but they're not done
Santogold:
You wonder, oh, how do I inspire?
Got the world spinnin' 'round inside my palm
Don't hate me you know they got you wired
You better show up ...?
'Cause we all wanna dance, just wanna dance dance,
We wanna dance, just wanna dance
'Cause we all wanna dance, just wanna dance dance
We wanna dance, just wanna dance
Casablancas:
It's summer in the city
It's summer in the city
We'd like to dance, to dance with you
Don't waste your time with one or two
You time it right, the summer night
You fall in love at every light
Santogold:
You wonder, oh, how do I inspire?
Got the world spinnin' 'round inside my palm
Don't hate me, 'cause you know they got you wired
You better show up ...?
'Cause we all wanna dance, just wanna dance dance,
We wanna dance, just wanna dance
'Cause we all wanna dance, just wanna dance dance
We wanna dance, just wanna dance
Lyrics submitted by RaineBM1185
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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."
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."
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
wow, i love this song. the music video is really cool.