"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.
Snow in the air, as it rides the winter breeze
Crystals of ice are hanging from the trees
The morning of Christmas has arrived in its due time
The children are waiting, their joy becomes mine
We march down the stairs and into the other room
The lights shining bright on the tree for all to view
The window is shattered and the presents are all gone
And the cries of my children wrote this song
I swear, when I get my hands on him
He'll never breathe again.
I won't stop tearing him limb from limb
He'll never breathe again.
I get in my car to chase the only set of tracks
A gun in my hand and a bag in the back
Deep in the slums, I saw him with their toys
My gunshot rang out,
But the snow absorbed the noise.
I bagged up his body and I threw it in the car
With all the toys that he'd carried oh so far
Now that I've got my hands on him,
I can breathe again
Finally, I've rid the world of him and
I can breathe again
Back at the house all my children were so sad
But when their presents return, then not but joy,
They'll surely have
I drove to the river and I threw the body in
No one else will be paying for his sin
Something screaming inside me
Says that I can breathe again
Judge me all that your hearts desire,
But I can breathe again.
Crystals of ice are hanging from the trees
The morning of Christmas has arrived in its due time
The children are waiting, their joy becomes mine
We march down the stairs and into the other room
The lights shining bright on the tree for all to view
The window is shattered and the presents are all gone
And the cries of my children wrote this song
I swear, when I get my hands on him
He'll never breathe again.
I won't stop tearing him limb from limb
He'll never breathe again.
I get in my car to chase the only set of tracks
A gun in my hand and a bag in the back
Deep in the slums, I saw him with their toys
My gunshot rang out,
But the snow absorbed the noise.
I bagged up his body and I threw it in the car
With all the toys that he'd carried oh so far
Now that I've got my hands on him,
I can breathe again
Finally, I've rid the world of him and
I can breathe again
Back at the house all my children were so sad
But when their presents return, then not but joy,
They'll surely have
I drove to the river and I threw the body in
No one else will be paying for his sin
Something screaming inside me
Says that I can breathe again
Judge me all that your hearts desire,
But I can breathe again.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
It seems the Grinch has met a sad end.
I can't believe that no one has commented on the ridiculous story in this song. It's a great song, don't get me wrong, but this man sounds psycho.
Wow, that is one nutty song ..
Whenever I listen to this band, I usually get lost in the melodies and soothing tones going on throughout their songs....
It took me listening to this song about 4 or 5 times before I was like "Holy crap, this song is freakin' brutal"
yeah i agree with Trenity. i found this song so calming until i read the lyrics. i think it's kind of weird how they put the music together with the lyrics. it's almost misleading but maybe that's just me...then again i don't see any other way that they could have done it.
The brutal nature of the lyrics contrasts with the soothing melody in the same way everyone has a darker nature that usually lies in varying depths beneath our surface. While the song's main character was probably a "good" person normally, the personal violation and that of his childrens' innocence caused that darker nature to surface. Even "good" people have a breaking point.
I think he killed Santa Claus. Goes with the Christmas thing.
First few times I didn't notice the lyrics either, then when I did I also thought t'was about Santa Claus, like a nutty Santa who goes 'round stealing presents and gets his. It would've made the song kinda funny actually.
I agree with russrabbitt's take on it. The guy in the song's a regular Joe with his share of ups and downs that snaps. I think the fact that the melody is so soothing helps to put you in his head and realize that only getting his kids happy could help him. When you hear "I can breathe again" you feel completely relieved, maybe incidentally recalling some desperate time in your life and you're suddenly really really glad you didn't lose it. But who knows where's your breaking point.
This song is based on a true story, at least I'm pretty sure I remember Joseph saying that at some point...
I just heard this song in my car for the first time. For the first half, I tuned out the lyrics, b/c he mentioned Christmas, and I was like oookay, not for me, but I liked the way it sounded so I didn't skip it, and once I heard him mention a gun... oh it was on. I couldn't stop laughing. I swear, I thought he was talking about killing Santa Claus and giving his kids all the toys he'd been carrying on his sleigh.
I thought it was brilliant! I mean awful, but by far comical... told myself I'd come home and look up the lyrics, and now I'm like.... ah... well... nevermind >.>
it's certainly not as entertaining now. More disturbing/awkward, but I've heard worse, so no real complaints. It's just weird, b/c I never took this band for making dark songs.