"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.
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
So I call, your name
Cross my fingers, uncross the others
Hesitate, oh I don't think straight
With nothin' to prove
I don't wanna say I'm leavin'
I'll stay until the weekend
You can take all the things, the boxes and rings
And get goin'
'Cause I've been waitin' for
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
Let it be, and come to me with the look in your eyes
Well you break and take all the words from my mouth
I wish all the pretty girls were shakin' me down
So I call (I call) you out (out baby)
Just to feel a little bit better about myself (he does)
I do (you do), baby
I do, I do, I do
Until their lips start to move
And their friends talk music
I'll say "I've never heard the tune."
But I have, I just hate the band
'Cause they remind me of you
Every single night ends up the same
I don't say much at all, but I bring up your name
(Over and over and over)
I think it's striking me out
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
Let it be, and come to me with the look in your eyes
Well you break and take all the words from my mouth
I wish all the pretty girls were shaking me down
But not you,
You still wear boots and your hair is too long
And then this one, doesn't wanna admit she's fallin' in love
Oh c'mon, oh c'mon, what's a boy to do
When all the pretty girls can't measure to you ?
Ha !
I don't understand your reasons
Please just stay over the weekend
You can't take all those things
They define you and me
Everything we've become
You're all that I need
Please don't make me face my generation alone
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
Let it be, and come to me with the look in your eyes
And you break and take all the words from my mouth
I wish all the pretty girls were shakin' me down
But not you,
I feel your faith is destroying the world
And then this one, never really understood
The 80's is over and done
Oh c'mon, what's a boy to do,
When all the pretty girls can't measure to you ?
Say
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
So I call, your name
Cross my fingers, uncross the others
Hesitate, oh I don't think straight
With nothin' to prove
I don't wanna say I'm leavin'
I'll stay until the weekend
You can take all the things, the boxes and rings
And get goin'
'Cause I've been waitin' for
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
Let it be, and come to me with the look in your eyes
Well you break and take all the words from my mouth
I wish all the pretty girls were shakin' me down
So I call (I call) you out (out baby)
Just to feel a little bit better about myself (he does)
I do (you do), baby
I do, I do, I do
Until their lips start to move
And their friends talk music
I'll say "I've never heard the tune."
But I have, I just hate the band
'Cause they remind me of you
Every single night ends up the same
I don't say much at all, but I bring up your name
(Over and over and over)
I think it's striking me out
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
Let it be, and come to me with the look in your eyes
Well you break and take all the words from my mouth
I wish all the pretty girls were shaking me down
But not you,
You still wear boots and your hair is too long
And then this one, doesn't wanna admit she's fallin' in love
Oh c'mon, oh c'mon, what's a boy to do
When all the pretty girls can't measure to you ?
Ha !
I don't understand your reasons
Please just stay over the weekend
You can't take all those things
They define you and me
Everything we've become
You're all that I need
Please don't make me face my generation alone
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
Let it be, and come to me with the look in your eyes
And you break and take all the words from my mouth
I wish all the pretty girls were shakin' me down
But not you,
I feel your faith is destroying the world
And then this one, never really understood
The 80's is over and done
Oh c'mon, what's a boy to do,
When all the pretty girls can't measure to you ?
Say
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
Lyrics submitted by SomthinCorporat, edited by Mellow_Harsher
All the Pretty Girls Lyrics as written by Jack Antonoff Andrew Dost
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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
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.
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.
Jesus Christ, this is talent. I'm glad there is still some out there.
Very Queen-ish. I love it.