"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.
Oh we could lie beneath the stars
Or watch a thousand passing cars
From the roof of this prison, yeah yeah
Oh we could make this moment ours
And I could hold you, touch your scars
I can't believe that I have you, yeah yeah
I said... you, I waste myself on you
You, I do anything for you
Yeah, waste myself on you, yeah yeah
Like a feather in a hurricane
That's sweeping through my brain
I can't seem to find hope in this situation, love
Oh, so I tremble like an earthquake
Your tears are heavy rain
They drown my soul in apathy
Like a flood, love
Singing now
You, I waste myself on you
You, I do anything for you
Yeah, waste myself on you, yeah yeah
You set me on fire
Now we're walking on a wire baby, a wire baby
You set me on fire
Now we're walking on a wire baby, a wire baby
You, I waste myself on you
You, I do anything for you
Yeah, waste myself on you, yeah yeah
Or watch a thousand passing cars
From the roof of this prison, yeah yeah
Oh we could make this moment ours
And I could hold you, touch your scars
I can't believe that I have you, yeah yeah
I said... you, I waste myself on you
You, I do anything for you
Yeah, waste myself on you, yeah yeah
Like a feather in a hurricane
That's sweeping through my brain
I can't seem to find hope in this situation, love
Oh, so I tremble like an earthquake
Your tears are heavy rain
They drown my soul in apathy
Like a flood, love
Singing now
You, I waste myself on you
You, I do anything for you
Yeah, waste myself on you, yeah yeah
You set me on fire
Now we're walking on a wire baby, a wire baby
You set me on fire
Now we're walking on a wire baby, a wire baby
You, I waste myself on you
You, I do anything for you
Yeah, waste myself on you, yeah yeah
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
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.
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.
this song talks about him "wasting" himself on a girl and doing anything for her, but then she "set him on fire" meaning she did something that really killed their relationship. so now they're "walking on a wire" meaning that their relationship is hanging by a thread aka could break anytime.
at least that's what i interpret from this. it basically explains my situation right now haha.