"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.
We've almost got job security,
At least there's a roof over our heads.
There are beds in our rooms,
And warm plates of food
Waiting to be had.
We're not asking
If they want anything,
But we'll take
What you can give.
I can honestly say
At this point in my life,
I'm grateful for what I get.
So hey,
Why am I trying to escape,
When everything I need is right here
At home?
I read that every good sermon
It starts with a story
To reel the audience in.
But I've got no life experience,
Just this terrible fear
That I'll captivate anything.
If I really have your attention
I'm desperate for the affection
Of a full capacity room.
As sweat seeps from my pores
I race for the door
And don't want it anymore.
So hey,
Why am I trying to escape,
When everything I need is right here?
But the neighbors just called
You didn't make it that far.
They saw ya picking flowers
from their yard.
Well hip, hip, hooray
What a wonderful escape.
And the way that I see
I see nothing at all,
I'm blindfolded in the backseat
Of a car.
Just drop me somewhere,
I can't retrace my steps.
Can I come back yet
To the only place
That clears my head?
To my home.
Yes, I learned my lesson,
But I'll always be restless,
I can assure you of that.
Even in the kingdom of heaven
I'll be asking the question,
"What's it like in hell"?
At least there's a roof over our heads.
There are beds in our rooms,
And warm plates of food
Waiting to be had.
We're not asking
If they want anything,
But we'll take
What you can give.
I can honestly say
At this point in my life,
I'm grateful for what I get.
So hey,
Why am I trying to escape,
When everything I need is right here
At home?
I read that every good sermon
It starts with a story
To reel the audience in.
But I've got no life experience,
Just this terrible fear
That I'll captivate anything.
If I really have your attention
I'm desperate for the affection
Of a full capacity room.
As sweat seeps from my pores
I race for the door
And don't want it anymore.
So hey,
Why am I trying to escape,
When everything I need is right here?
But the neighbors just called
You didn't make it that far.
They saw ya picking flowers
from their yard.
Well hip, hip, hooray
What a wonderful escape.
And the way that I see
I see nothing at all,
I'm blindfolded in the backseat
Of a car.
Just drop me somewhere,
I can't retrace my steps.
Can I come back yet
To the only place
That clears my head?
To my home.
Yes, I learned my lesson,
But I'll always be restless,
I can assure you of that.
Even in the kingdom of heaven
I'll be asking the question,
"What's it like in hell"?
Lyrics submitted by deadboysneedlunch
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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/
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.