"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.
"It seems that your life is about losing"
"Losing hope, losing faith, losing all your emotions"
"Losing the ones you love"
"Losing your heart, losing your soul,
and losing everything in just the blink of an eye"
Nothing left to see
Nothing left to lose
I will lay my way
I would have to choose
If you wanted anything
you have the freedom
to anything you want
I came to rape
I came to abuse
I'm so damn bored
I get the blues
Don't ask me questions about myself
I don't know who I am
I want to hear you scream
hey,hey,hey,hey
I want you to believe
in me
You don't know what I've been through
You don't know what it takes
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
All my life I tried so hard
and everything turned into shit
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
Mother ran away
Father nearly died
they were never happy
'cause they never tried
time heals all wounds they say
but some wounds never heal at all
I have to face
my own bad past
It's so damn ugly
and it seems to last
the ones who sing those love songs
Not a single word is true
I want to hear you scream
(hey,hey,hey,hey)
I want you to believe
in me
You don't know what I've been through
You don't know what it takes
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
All my life I tried so hard
and everything turned into shit
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
Hey,hey,hey,hey
You don't know what I've been through
You don't know what it takes
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
All my life I tried so hard
and everything turned into shit
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
you don't know anything
Hey, hey, hey, hey
"Losing hope, losing faith, losing all your emotions"
"Losing the ones you love"
"Losing your heart, losing your soul,
and losing everything in just the blink of an eye"
Nothing left to see
Nothing left to lose
I will lay my way
I would have to choose
If you wanted anything
you have the freedom
to anything you want
I came to rape
I came to abuse
I'm so damn bored
I get the blues
Don't ask me questions about myself
I don't know who I am
I want to hear you scream
hey,hey,hey,hey
I want you to believe
in me
You don't know what I've been through
You don't know what it takes
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
All my life I tried so hard
and everything turned into shit
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
Mother ran away
Father nearly died
they were never happy
'cause they never tried
time heals all wounds they say
but some wounds never heal at all
I have to face
my own bad past
It's so damn ugly
and it seems to last
the ones who sing those love songs
Not a single word is true
I want to hear you scream
(hey,hey,hey,hey)
I want you to believe
in me
You don't know what I've been through
You don't know what it takes
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
All my life I tried so hard
and everything turned into shit
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
Hey,hey,hey,hey
You don't know what I've been through
You don't know what it takes
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
All my life I tried so hard
and everything turned into shit
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
You don't know anything
You don't know anything at all
you don't know anything
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Lyrics submitted by forcedrevival
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
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.