"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.
Well, it rained like hell
In the city last night
And the leaves fell down today
My head is a radio station that won't take off
I am standing on the corner
Trying to do my very best Keith Richards
Who's doing his best Nick Drake
Doing his very best impression of me
Play guitar, stop singing along
There's a hole in my head
Where the pictures of you have gone
And, try as I might,
I cannot shake the feeling
That my life is a joke gone wrong
Play guitar, stop singing along
There's a mighty fine line
Between a love affair and a car crash
There's a great divide
Between you and I these days
And I wouldn't set foot
In Toledo again if you paid me
Bang my head against the wall
Trying to find your earthly remains
Play guitar, stop singing along
There's a hole in my head
Where the pictures of you have gone
And, try as I might,
I cannot shake the feeling
That my life is a joke gone wrong
Play guitar, stop singing along
There's a streetlight, there's a firefight, there's a bottle in every hand
There's a message on the window, there's a line drawn in the sand
And I am begging you, I am begging you, "Baby, please don't leave your man"
And I am holding my breath 'til my heart starts beating again
I can see my breath on this February New Jersey morning
I can hear the bagpipes ringing in the Ides of March
I can see you shaking your head without moving a muscle
I can hear your voice but I can't remember your name
Play guitar, stop singing along
There's a hole in my head
Where the pictures of you have gone
And, try as I might,
I cannot shake the feeling
That my life is a joke gone wrong
Play guitar, stop singing along
In the city last night
And the leaves fell down today
My head is a radio station that won't take off
I am standing on the corner
Trying to do my very best Keith Richards
Who's doing his best Nick Drake
Doing his very best impression of me
Play guitar, stop singing along
There's a hole in my head
Where the pictures of you have gone
And, try as I might,
I cannot shake the feeling
That my life is a joke gone wrong
Play guitar, stop singing along
There's a mighty fine line
Between a love affair and a car crash
There's a great divide
Between you and I these days
And I wouldn't set foot
In Toledo again if you paid me
Bang my head against the wall
Trying to find your earthly remains
Play guitar, stop singing along
There's a hole in my head
Where the pictures of you have gone
And, try as I might,
I cannot shake the feeling
That my life is a joke gone wrong
Play guitar, stop singing along
There's a streetlight, there's a firefight, there's a bottle in every hand
There's a message on the window, there's a line drawn in the sand
And I am begging you, I am begging you, "Baby, please don't leave your man"
And I am holding my breath 'til my heart starts beating again
I can see my breath on this February New Jersey morning
I can hear the bagpipes ringing in the Ides of March
I can see you shaking your head without moving a muscle
I can hear your voice but I can't remember your name
Play guitar, stop singing along
There's a hole in my head
Where the pictures of you have gone
And, try as I might,
I cannot shake the feeling
That my life is a joke gone wrong
Play guitar, stop singing along
Lyrics submitted by concreteblues
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.