"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.
Can anybody tell me why
We're lying here on the floor
And neither of us can barely breathe at all
The doctor's saying hold on tight
As we say our last goodbye
And this is a moment that changes our whole lives
And I still believe in the good
And I still believe in the light
And I wanna feel the sun
I wanna free you tonight
And I still believe in the good
And I still believe in the light
And I wanna feel the sun
I wanna free you tonight
I'm staring deep into your eyes
They're telling me the time has come
And I know you're ready to rise and sail home
The room is filling up with light
As we say our last goodnight
I thank you for every second of your life
And I still believe in the good
And I still believe in the light
And I wanna feel the sun
I wanna free you tonight
And I still believe in the good
And I still believe in the light
And I wanna feel the sun
I wanna free you
And I'm falling, watching as you're hurting
I'm down here I'm on my knees
How can I survive
Then you turn to me and promise me you're ready
And tell me you'll be waiting on the other side
And I still believe in the good
And I still believe in the light
And I wanna feel the sun
I wanna free you tonight
And you showed me all the good
And you lead me through the light
And you gave me the sun
It's time to free you tonight
We're lying here on the floor
And neither of us can barely breathe at all
The doctor's saying hold on tight
As we say our last goodbye
And this is a moment that changes our whole lives
And I still believe in the good
And I still believe in the light
And I wanna feel the sun
I wanna free you tonight
And I still believe in the good
And I still believe in the light
And I wanna feel the sun
I wanna free you tonight
I'm staring deep into your eyes
They're telling me the time has come
And I know you're ready to rise and sail home
The room is filling up with light
As we say our last goodnight
I thank you for every second of your life
And I still believe in the good
And I still believe in the light
And I wanna feel the sun
I wanna free you tonight
And I still believe in the good
And I still believe in the light
And I wanna feel the sun
I wanna free you
And I'm falling, watching as you're hurting
I'm down here I'm on my knees
How can I survive
Then you turn to me and promise me you're ready
And tell me you'll be waiting on the other side
And I still believe in the good
And I still believe in the light
And I wanna feel the sun
I wanna free you tonight
And you showed me all the good
And you lead me through the light
And you gave me the sun
It's time to free you tonight
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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."
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
"The song is about death and as Maria adds, "Actually it is about a few deaths. A close person to us died of lung cancer, my dog died and then we got this e-mail from a woman whose son died at 15 years old". "He loved our band and was a really die hard fan." "One of his make a wish type things was to go to Ozfest and meet us." When he died, they were listening to a song I wrote for my son off the last album, he past away while listening to it". "He touched all our lives." "So it was inspired by that little boy too"."
seaoftranquility.org/article.php
I love this song. Maria sings it so beautifully. I love her voice it's so amazing. I think its about her friends that had passed away.
This song is so beautiful - lyrics are amazing, and Maria's vocal is so heartfelt. when you listen to the song it actually touches your heart. You feel the sorrow that comes with a death, but you also feel the sense of inner strength, the will to go on. Definately my favourite track on the album. Anyone who appreciates good music will love this track!!!
Yeah, this song is really amazing. And I agree with you, Andeanie, she's full of sorrow, but she does still believe in the good and the light. I can't wait to see them at Warped this year.
This song is about a little boy named zack who was a big fan of in this moment who was dying and he went to go see their concert and passed away while listening to the song he said eternity
The song about the boy dying is called "He Said Eternity." This song is about Maria's mom dying and how she had to let go of her.
Uh nope, this is dedicated to Zack who was 14 years old and born with half a heart. In this Moment was his favorite band and like others stated he died to 'He Said Eternity' while his mother was with him. It's a really sad song, it's one of those songs that gets to me everytime.
this song is in fact about zach. this band is my favorite of all time and i follow their work in every possible way and signalsinether you are correct with your post. whoever likes this song on the album should definitely check them out live because it is so much better. the way they perform this song live is honestly breath taking. you can find clips on youtube if you type in, "in this moment into the light live" this band is so worth seeing if you have the chance
Ok so im 18 years old, and my freshmen year of highschool my Grandpa found out that his kidneys was failing and he would have to start Kidney Dialysis. Well he found that for 3 years along with Dementia and Diabetes, I never went no where I stayed right there with him the whole time and took care of him. I seen him go from a strong healthy and happy person to being someone who didnt know who he nor anyone else was. He lost all strenght couldnt walk, eat, or even speak he got that weak. It seemed like he was holding on for the family but he was sooooo tired and he fought so hard. Anyways my Grandfater passed away a couple weeks before my birthday and ive never felt such hurt in my whole life. Exactly one year after he was gone my Grandma passed away which hit me so hard I was very close to my Grandparents they was like my Mom and Dad. Anyways moving on there is a reason for me stating all this..
When I first heard this song it reminded me so much of them and so much of what happened. After losing both my Grandparents and it seemed so unfair, but at the same time I still carry them with me. I still go on and stay strong for them, it hasnt turned me bitter or nasty towards life nor God. Im happy they are no longer in pain and I know there still with me, and this song reminds me of all this. This song is so moving and has so much meaning to it. You can hear the passion in her voice and it adds so much more to this song, it seriously sends chills through me everytime I hear this song.
In this song I feel like she is singing about how much she doesnt want to let them go but shes ready to cause she knows they are ready. "I thank you for every second of you life" it speaks for itself to be honest, but it has so much feeling to it and meaning. I can go on and on about this song So I will stop here. This song truely is amazing.
I read about the inspiration in Revolver Magazine, I think it was. I know it was multi-leveled, including the death of a pet. We played this at my best friends service and I am also playing it now for my cat who just passed today. It can go for anyone who's lost someone they've truly loved. Beautifully written song.