"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.
(Oh, yeah)
You dream of a day
When the songs that you play
Are blasting through the speakers in your car
And it comes in a flash
And you hear the crowd
Screaming out your name for the encore
Living life, life in the fast lane
Not that bad, no, we can't complain
Who's to say that we won't keep it real?
Hold on tight, don't you dare let go
Now's the time, let the whole world know
You can shine bright, but still keep it real
Who could know
That you'd be on the road
Selling out the tickets to your show
And when you're home, you're still the one
You were before you left to go on tour
Living life, life in the fast lane
Not that bad, no, we can't complain
Who's to say that we won't keep it real?
Hold on tight, don't you dare let go
Now's the time, let the whole world know
You can shine bright, but still keep it real
Did you ever think your dreams
(Would become a reality, whoa)
All you did was just believe
Living life, life in the fast lane
Not that bad, no, we can't complain
Who's to say, that we won't keep it real
Yeah
Living life, life in the fast lane
Not that bad, no, we can't complain
Who's to say that we won't keep it real?
Hold on tight, don't you dare let go
Now's the time, let the whole world know
You can shine bright, but still keep it real
You dream of a day
When the songs that you play
Are blasting through the speakers in your car
And it comes in a flash
And you hear the crowd
Screaming out your name for the encore
Living life, life in the fast lane
Not that bad, no, we can't complain
Who's to say that we won't keep it real?
Hold on tight, don't you dare let go
Now's the time, let the whole world know
You can shine bright, but still keep it real
Who could know
That you'd be on the road
Selling out the tickets to your show
And when you're home, you're still the one
You were before you left to go on tour
Living life, life in the fast lane
Not that bad, no, we can't complain
Who's to say that we won't keep it real?
Hold on tight, don't you dare let go
Now's the time, let the whole world know
You can shine bright, but still keep it real
Did you ever think your dreams
(Would become a reality, whoa)
All you did was just believe
Living life, life in the fast lane
Not that bad, no, we can't complain
Who's to say, that we won't keep it real
Yeah
Living life, life in the fast lane
Not that bad, no, we can't complain
Who's to say that we won't keep it real?
Hold on tight, don't you dare let go
Now's the time, let the whole world know
You can shine bright, but still keep it real
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
Keep It Real [Bonus Track] Lyrics as written by Nicholas Jonas Joseph Jonas
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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.
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."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
hah this song gets stuck in my head, something FIERCE.
its obvious that the meaning is about them dreaming about a life like they have and it finally happening but they're keeping it real.
LOVE IT.
I think it's kind of like Demi Lovato's 'La La Land.' It has the same message that even though their dreams of becoming rockstars and being famous from when they were younger has come true, the fame and fortune won't get to them and they'll stay true to themselves and "keep it real."
"Dream of a day When the songs that you play Are blasting through the speakers in your car And it comes in a flash And you hear the crowd Screaming out your name for the encore"
Before somebody's rich and famous, they dream of becoming that. They dream of having their songs play on the radio, at concerts the crowd calling out your name for you to sing an encore. Pretty self-explanatory.
"Livin' life, life in the fast lane Not that bad No, we can't complain Who's to say That we won't keep it real? Hold on tight Don't you dare let go Now's the time Let the whole world know You can shine bright But still keep it real"
Life in the fast lane is obviously referring to being a celebrity. They're saying it's not that bad, they can't complain. Who's to say that they can't still be normal, that they'll let go of all reality and become a stuck-up celeb. They're out to prove that you can still be a star but stay grounded at the same time.
"Who could know That you'd be on the road Selling out the tickets to your show? When you're home You're still the one You were before you left to go on tour"
Who would have known that before they became famouse that they would be. That they'd be having sell-out concerts. But at home, they're still the same as they were before they became world famous and started touring.
"Did you ever think your dreams (Would become a reality?) All you did was just believe"
Did you ever think that your dreams would come true if all you did was believe. Very simple to understand. I touched up that last one there because it was missing the word 'You' in the beginning.
I'm pretty sure that's what the meaning of the song is. I'm going to feel really stupid if I got it wrong, because it is a fairly simple song to interprete. :P
total rip on maxine gale's "right back where we started from". can't the come up with original riffs.
That's exactly what I thought the first time I hear this song! :D Love the Jonas Brothers, but there's an obvious influence here, if not a total, willing rip off.
I'm pretty sure that most, if not all, of the songs they came up with for their TV series are based on other songs.
It's about them being celebrities becoming Rock stars living their dream. Like they once dreamed. But not getting caught up in the fame, just remaining themselves, grounded, and real.
I think this is a little shot at Trace Cyrus for what he said about them being fake. When JoBros say "Who's to say that we wont keep it real." So they're trying to express the fact that they can have screaming girls after them, selling out concerts all over the world, and still be real, remaining the same people they were before they were the "Jonas Brothers".
Just a thought.