"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.
She was living in a perfect house
With pictures of smiling faces
But there's a different story told inside
Underneath it all
With the sunglasses and makeup on
Blaming the stairs at Macy's
But they all knew (didn't even asked, "Is a something wrong?")
So they wait, now she's gone
I don't understand the concept of
The power of one is stronger
Why don't people seem to care at all
As long as it's not about them?
I say
I guess we've underestimated love
Or why would we hurt each other?
Don't you find that ironical
When love is all we need?
Oh, yeah
He is living down his sunset strip
Singing the blues for money, hey
It's easy just to look the other way
When you have it all
He's reaching out to find a helping hand
But nobody seems to bother
I hear them say ("It's not my problem so it's not my call")
You're on your own through it all
I don't understand the concept of
The power of one is stronger
Why don't people seem to care at all
As long as it's not about them?
I say
I guess we've underestimated love
Or why would we hurt each other? Yeah
Don't you find that ironical
When love is all we need?
Oh, yeah
When it all becomes too real
We have a tendency to be
Too scared to face it
It's breaking my heart to see
When love is all we need
I don't understand the concept of (all we need)
The power of one is stronger (oh)
Why don't people seem to care at all
As long as it's not about them?
I say
Guess we've underestimated love
Or why would we hurt each other? Yeah
Don't you find that ironical
When love is all we need?
Oh, yeah
Oh, boy, yeah
With pictures of smiling faces
But there's a different story told inside
Underneath it all
With the sunglasses and makeup on
Blaming the stairs at Macy's
But they all knew (didn't even asked, "Is a something wrong?")
So they wait, now she's gone
I don't understand the concept of
The power of one is stronger
Why don't people seem to care at all
As long as it's not about them?
I say
I guess we've underestimated love
Or why would we hurt each other?
Don't you find that ironical
When love is all we need?
Oh, yeah
He is living down his sunset strip
Singing the blues for money, hey
It's easy just to look the other way
When you have it all
He's reaching out to find a helping hand
But nobody seems to bother
I hear them say ("It's not my problem so it's not my call")
You're on your own through it all
I don't understand the concept of
The power of one is stronger
Why don't people seem to care at all
As long as it's not about them?
I say
I guess we've underestimated love
Or why would we hurt each other? Yeah
Don't you find that ironical
When love is all we need?
Oh, yeah
When it all becomes too real
We have a tendency to be
Too scared to face it
It's breaking my heart to see
When love is all we need
I don't understand the concept of (all we need)
The power of one is stronger (oh)
Why don't people seem to care at all
As long as it's not about them?
I say
Guess we've underestimated love
Or why would we hurt each other? Yeah
Don't you find that ironical
When love is all we need?
Oh, yeah
Oh, boy, yeah
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This song is about how we see certain situations, but we choose to ignore them or pretend that they don't apply to us.
The first verse indicates a woman who is in a perfect living situation. But the untold story is that her husband/father/ someone in her life is abusive. She uses sunglasses and makeup to cover the bruises, and blames the stairs at Macy's for what couldn't be covered.
The second verse is about a guy whose struggling to survive on the street. To try and survive he plays the blues, and looks for people to help. Unfortunately people just walk by excusing it as "It's not my problem."