"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.
Can't control the words I'm sayin'
When I curse you start swearin'
But then you badmouth me
You stupid little fuck
Don't come to me
Ain't gonna stand here
Will not grieve
A righteous man
Not to be seen
So take your act elsewhere
Stupid redneck
Don't want you here
When you spit it out
Full of pride
Spit it out
Take your time
If you don't hear what I'm sayin'
Wish I could say yes I'm a man
But then I lie
The best I can
I'm seeing red
What's wrong with me
And my rotten head
If you don't hear what I'm sayin'
Go home before you start weepin'
When I curse you start swearin'
But then you badmouth me
You stupid little fuck
Don't come to me
Ain't gonna stand here
Will not grieve
A righteous man
Not to be seen
So take your act elsewhere
Stupid redneck
Don't want you here
When you spit it out
Full of pride
Spit it out
Take your time
If you don't hear what I'm sayin'
Wish I could say yes I'm a man
But then I lie
The best I can
I'm seeing red
What's wrong with me
And my rotten head
If you don't hear what I'm sayin'
Go home before you start weepin'
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
It's probably about people who don't speak their mind and how upsetting that can be.
The last verse, I would guess, is about wishing you had more courage to actually tell people that you can see through them when they don't speak their minds. This unability to tell people this makes you see in red and wonder why you just can't...