"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.
I think you wanna come over
Yeah I heard it through the grapevine
Are you drunk? Are you sober?
(Think about it)
Doesn't matter
And if it makes you feel good then I say do it
I don't know what you're waiting for
Feel my temperature rising
It's too much heat
I'm gonna lose control
Do you want to go higher?
Get closer to the fire
I don't what you're waiting for
I'm gonna party
(Yeah)
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get this started
(Yeah)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
Boy you got a reputation
But you're gonna have to prove it
I see a little hesitation
Am I gonna have to show ya
That if it feels right
Get on your mark
Step to the beat boy
That's what its for
Put your arms around me
When it gets too hot we can go outside
But for now just come here
Let me whisper in your ear
An invitation to the dance of life
I'm gonna party
(It's a celebration)
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get this started
(No more hesitation)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
Haven't I seen you somewhere before?
You look familiar
You wanna dance?
Yeah
I guess I just don't recognize you with your clothes on
What are you waiting for?
I'm gonna party
(It's a celebration)
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get this started
(No more hesitation)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
Come join the party
(It's a celebration)
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get this started
(No more hesitation)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
Boy you got it
(It's a celebration)
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get it started
(No more hesitation)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
Boy you got it
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get it started
(No more hesitation)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
Yeah I heard it through the grapevine
Are you drunk? Are you sober?
(Think about it)
Doesn't matter
And if it makes you feel good then I say do it
I don't know what you're waiting for
Feel my temperature rising
It's too much heat
I'm gonna lose control
Do you want to go higher?
Get closer to the fire
I don't what you're waiting for
I'm gonna party
(Yeah)
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get this started
(Yeah)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
Boy you got a reputation
But you're gonna have to prove it
I see a little hesitation
Am I gonna have to show ya
That if it feels right
Get on your mark
Step to the beat boy
That's what its for
Put your arms around me
When it gets too hot we can go outside
But for now just come here
Let me whisper in your ear
An invitation to the dance of life
I'm gonna party
(It's a celebration)
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get this started
(No more hesitation)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
Haven't I seen you somewhere before?
You look familiar
You wanna dance?
Yeah
I guess I just don't recognize you with your clothes on
What are you waiting for?
I'm gonna party
(It's a celebration)
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get this started
(No more hesitation)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
Come join the party
(It's a celebration)
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get this started
(No more hesitation)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
Boy you got it
(It's a celebration)
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get it started
(No more hesitation)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
Boy you got it
'Cause anybody just won't do
Let's get it started
(No more hesitation)
'Cause everybody wants to party with you
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Actually lyrics have connection with her past songs:
Do you want to go higher? - The Power of Goodbye Put your arms around me - Fever Step to the beat - Into the Groove Get closer to the fire - Who's That Girl No more hesitation - Hung Up/4 Minutes Spoken part starts with "Haven't I seen you somewhere before" - Everybody