"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.
Hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
(Hey) time goes by a little less slowly
When I'm out (hey) my mind
Thought you said, "I need you more than ever" (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
So why'd you have to hide?
"I need you more than ever" (hey)
Don't let me die
I need you more now (hey, hey, hey, hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No, I'm not broken
I'm just scared to belong here
(Hey, hey, hey, hey) scared to be happier (hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No I'm not broken
I'm just scared to belong here
(Hey, hey, hey) scared to be happier (hey)
To happier (hey)
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
(Hey) take my heart
And put it on a wall right next to
(Hey) all your scars
I thought you said you need me more than ever (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
So why you'd have to hide? (Why do you have to hide?)
I need you more than ever
Don't let me die
I need you right now (hey, hey, hey, hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No, I'm not broken
I'm just scared to belong here
Scared to be happier (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No, I'm not broken
I'm just scared to belong here
Scared to be happier
Broken, I'm not broken, I'm not broken
I'm just a little depressed
I'm not broken (hey), I'm not broken, I'm not broken
I just need a rest (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
I'm not broken, not broken, not broken
I'm just a little depressed
I'm not broken (hey), not broken, not broken
I just need a rest (hey, hey, hey, hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No, I'm not broken
I'm just scared to belong here
Scared to be happier (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No, I'm not broken (not broken)
I'm just scared to belong here (hey, hey, hey, hey)
Scared to be happier (hey)
Happier (hey)
Not broken (hey, hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
(Hey) time goes by a little less slowly
When I'm out (hey) my mind
Thought you said, "I need you more than ever" (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
So why'd you have to hide?
"I need you more than ever" (hey)
Don't let me die
I need you more now (hey, hey, hey, hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No, I'm not broken
I'm just scared to belong here
(Hey, hey, hey, hey) scared to be happier (hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No I'm not broken
I'm just scared to belong here
(Hey, hey, hey) scared to be happier (hey)
To happier (hey)
(Hey, hey, hey, hey)
(Hey) take my heart
And put it on a wall right next to
(Hey) all your scars
I thought you said you need me more than ever (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
So why you'd have to hide? (Why do you have to hide?)
I need you more than ever
Don't let me die
I need you right now (hey, hey, hey, hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No, I'm not broken
I'm just scared to belong here
Scared to be happier (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No, I'm not broken
I'm just scared to belong here
Scared to be happier
Broken, I'm not broken, I'm not broken
I'm just a little depressed
I'm not broken (hey), I'm not broken, I'm not broken
I just need a rest (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
I'm not broken, not broken, not broken
I'm just a little depressed
I'm not broken (hey), not broken, not broken
I just need a rest (hey, hey, hey, hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No, I'm not broken
I'm just scared to belong here
Scared to be happier (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
If I could tell you how I feel
I know that you're still hurting too (hey)
No, I'm not broken (not broken)
I'm just scared to belong here (hey, hey, hey, hey)
Scared to be happier (hey)
Happier (hey)
Not broken (hey, hey, hey)
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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
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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,