"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.
Chorus
Wine your body
Wriggle your belly
Dip and go down in a the new stylee
Wine and go up, wine and go down
Bubble and a rock ca the new style around
You fe line it up, you fe wine it up
Do the boomshackalak till the dance hall full up
The boomshackalak it a the brand new style
Wicked say it wicked jah jah no say it wild
Raggamuffin style fe the discipline child
Dip and go down ca it well versatile
You fe move fe your waist, move fe your back
Wine and go down do the shack-a-lak-a-lak
Get in a the groove ca you are the top notch
Bubble and a wine gal right pon the spot
Chorus
The gal pon the left she truly design
Watch how she bubble and watch how she wine
Back, she front, she a move she waist line
Tell a boy say that the gal say she mine
Mine she mine ca we rock it in a time
Everybody join in when she give you the sign
Chorus
The english gal a do the boomshackalak
The american gal a do the boomshackalak
The indian possie do the boomshackalak
The yardy gal a do the boomshackalak
The japanese gal a do the boomshackalak
And the german gal a do the boomshackalak
Chorus
Put yours hands in a the air like you just don't care
Raggamuffin deh bout so you better be aware
The north and the south everybody everywhere
Flex out shock out ca the vibe in a the air
Bubble and a wine ca the gal a draw near
Everybody sing out when the dj say
Chorus
Wine your body
Wriggle your belly
Dip and go down in a the new stylee
Wine and go up, wine and go down
Bubble and a rock ca the new style around
You fe line it up, you fe wine it up
Do the boomshackalak till the dance hall full up
The boomshackalak it a the brand new style
Wicked say it wicked jah jah no say it wild
Raggamuffin style fe the discipline child
Dip and go down ca it well versatile
You fe move fe your waist, move fe your back
Wine and go down do the shack-a-lak-a-lak
Get in a the groove ca you are the top notch
Bubble and a wine gal right pon the spot
Chorus
The gal pon the left she truly design
Watch how she bubble and watch how she wine
Back, she front, she a move she waist line
Tell a boy say that the gal say she mine
Mine she mine ca we rock it in a time
Everybody join in when she give you the sign
Chorus
The english gal a do the boomshackalak
The american gal a do the boomshackalak
The indian possie do the boomshackalak
The yardy gal a do the boomshackalak
The japanese gal a do the boomshackalak
And the german gal a do the boomshackalak
Chorus
Put yours hands in a the air like you just don't care
Raggamuffin deh bout so you better be aware
The north and the south everybody everywhere
Flex out shock out ca the vibe in a the air
Bubble and a wine ca the gal a draw near
Everybody sing out when the dj say
Chorus
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
This shit is insane! All of the past decades have a certain label that can be put on them, but the 90s?? How the hell can you put a label on the 90s with crazy music like this? The 90s did its own thing. It's something else, man!