"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.
What is life supposed to mean?
A mystery?
Some mystery.
Who am I supposed to be?
Who am I to be?
Anything?
Is this real or just a dream
Or do I know or just believe
All these feelings that I fear reality?
My eyes are open now I see
With the utmost certainty
That time is leading
It slips away
There is nothing greater than this
No other place or time I know
There is nowhere I'd rather be so why ask for
Why ask for more
So many things to do and see
For me to know, for me to be
I never realized 'til now
What this life means
Means to me
Relive a lie and die each day
pretending it's not happening
but we need it
we all need it to believe
Somebody out there help me please
Give me some peace and set me free
Stop me from making the same mistakes
There is nothing greater than this
No other place or time I know
There is nowhere I'd rather be so why ask for
Why ask for more
What is a worry
There is no hurry
These are the stories of our lives
The moment, the glory
The sound and the fury
These are the stories of our lives
Nothing greater than this
Nothing greater than this
Stop dreaming of fictious places
Just take a look around
Everything you want is right here
Everything you need is now
Everything is yours to try
You are free to change your mind
You don't need a reason why
To spread your wings and touch the sky
A mystery?
Some mystery.
Who am I supposed to be?
Who am I to be?
Anything?
Is this real or just a dream
Or do I know or just believe
All these feelings that I fear reality?
My eyes are open now I see
With the utmost certainty
That time is leading
It slips away
There is nothing greater than this
No other place or time I know
There is nowhere I'd rather be so why ask for
Why ask for more
So many things to do and see
For me to know, for me to be
I never realized 'til now
What this life means
Means to me
Relive a lie and die each day
pretending it's not happening
but we need it
we all need it to believe
Somebody out there help me please
Give me some peace and set me free
Stop me from making the same mistakes
There is nothing greater than this
No other place or time I know
There is nowhere I'd rather be so why ask for
Why ask for more
What is a worry
There is no hurry
These are the stories of our lives
The moment, the glory
The sound and the fury
These are the stories of our lives
Nothing greater than this
Nothing greater than this
Stop dreaming of fictious places
Just take a look around
Everything you want is right here
Everything you need is now
Everything is yours to try
You are free to change your mind
You don't need a reason why
To spread your wings and touch the sky
Lyrics submitted by EliteApathy, edited by shvytejimas
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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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
I think this song explains itself. Live for the moment. Don't try to live a dream, live for what life is.
"Somebody out there help me please Give me some peace and set me free Stop me from making the same mistakes" I think he's trying to convey that he's screwed it up in the past and clearly was looking at things wrongly.
Having realized the way he ought to see life, he's basically coming out and saying that life is what it is. Live it to the fullest and you'll realize it's good enough as it is. Sound good?
I love this song. It makes me think differently than I ever have.
amazing song...we should all just live the moment.
i think the part is missing is something like this: "everything you need is now everything is yours to try you are free to change your mind you don't need a reason why to spread your wing and touch the sky"
The first time I heard this song. I FUCKING HATED IT. I was like, This is Informatik, This is Industrial. Why are they going soft? Then I realized. It is an amazing song. throughout life We have rough stages, and peaceful stages. Clearly Informatik, wanted to say something peaceful for their time. and I love it. I think of this song all of the time. its the first one on my profile. I finally understand the message he is making, and that everyone else got before i did. But, better late than never. -Mandi
I agree. I love this song, there's something weird about it that keeps luring me in. Glad to know there are people out there who care. Informatik is one of my favorite obscure bands!
This song is sneakily catchy and sounds cool... however, the message behind it is bullshit. There may not be more to life than what we know. It is what it is. But to just cut yourself off from your dreams, find absolute bliss in mediocrity and complacency...? That goes against everything for which Art stands, what Music conveys, etc. Live in reality and you will be dull, lifeless, vapid and gray. Live in dreams, and you may be anything. :D