"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.
They taught me songs of cognac and rum
to keep away all them spiritual doldrums
They'll start to burn and I should've ran slept like a stick in the old beaver dam
and we will start a hungry war like Napoleon, by shooting off our mouth
and the beads of sweat are so gullible, that they will glow...
They sacrificed at the ports of Brunei
They sold me out with their chins to the sky might be my son, let me see your hands
I should've drowned you when I had the chance
and we will fly through the land like syphilis, cutting off their balls
And their punishment will run in a caravan, led by shouts...
Some grace lands, are like a little secret there to keep you interested
On daytime shifts I'll dig through the trash on nighttime runs I'll sort out the past
If wishes lived where the bone breakers quake
these lips of mine they will drink from the lake
they are crushed by the cunts of the colony, a timid goal golem
and there's a fence hiding backyard dividends, and precious few...
Those bottles shatter at the sound of dispute
and bottlecaps are a chorus of roots
The bass is sung with a conscience renewed by melodies that will never conclude
So by and by there is grass on the battleground, and the weed grows again
and the soft little strip of an arrowtip, will never cut...
And the broad man, broad shoulders squared...
against the bomb
It's a brave little bayleaf cold...
and curing strong
It's winter's night west virginia style...
I'll call it home it's summer's eve the clam shell is cracked...
The mussel's out
to keep away all them spiritual doldrums
They'll start to burn and I should've ran slept like a stick in the old beaver dam
and we will start a hungry war like Napoleon, by shooting off our mouth
and the beads of sweat are so gullible, that they will glow...
They sacrificed at the ports of Brunei
They sold me out with their chins to the sky might be my son, let me see your hands
I should've drowned you when I had the chance
and we will fly through the land like syphilis, cutting off their balls
And their punishment will run in a caravan, led by shouts...
Some grace lands, are like a little secret there to keep you interested
On daytime shifts I'll dig through the trash on nighttime runs I'll sort out the past
If wishes lived where the bone breakers quake
these lips of mine they will drink from the lake
they are crushed by the cunts of the colony, a timid goal golem
and there's a fence hiding backyard dividends, and precious few...
Those bottles shatter at the sound of dispute
and bottlecaps are a chorus of roots
The bass is sung with a conscience renewed by melodies that will never conclude
So by and by there is grass on the battleground, and the weed grows again
and the soft little strip of an arrowtip, will never cut...
And the broad man, broad shoulders squared...
against the bomb
It's a brave little bayleaf cold...
and curing strong
It's winter's night west virginia style...
I'll call it home it's summer's eve the clam shell is cracked...
The mussel's out
Lyrics submitted by isearcy
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.