"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.
Step up here, tell me
Am I dumb enough to believe?
When somebody says jump on this
Would you follow them on your knees?
Am I wrong or right
To be dancing with you tonight?
Said I'm done with his fantasies
What I got is my sanity
My baby knows what I want
He's getting me and my thing
He better take what I got
Or he won't see me again
'Cause there's been too many guys
Just making moves on the floor
My baby's reading my mind
He knows that I'm needing more
And I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody know know knows that
I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody no can bring it home
(Nobody no can bring it home)
(Nobody no can bring it home)
Seventeen and dumb
Look at me I know right from wrong
You and me we got something on
And I don't need to hear that come come
And I don't need to hear that come come
Make you mine with the diamonds in the right sack
Give it time and I'm gonna get you right back
Saw the signs and I never ever fight back
I keep it tight 'cause I know you really like that
Do it right and you know I'm gonna hype that
Write the rhymes and I'll sing it to you right back
And I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody know know knows that
I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody no can bring it home
Nobody no can bring it home
(Nobody no can bring it home)
(Nobody no can bring it home)
Sick sick sick sick sick
So tired of the best dress
Didn't really want to keep it for the rest
Oh oh oh
So I skipped to the next best
Didn't really know that
I was gonna end up here
And I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody know know knows that
I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody no can bring it home
Nobody no can bring it home
(Nobody no can bring it home)
(Nobody no can bring it home)
Am I dumb enough to believe?
When somebody says jump on this
Would you follow them on your knees?
Am I wrong or right
To be dancing with you tonight?
Said I'm done with his fantasies
What I got is my sanity
My baby knows what I want
He's getting me and my thing
He better take what I got
Or he won't see me again
'Cause there's been too many guys
Just making moves on the floor
My baby's reading my mind
He knows that I'm needing more
And I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody know know knows that
I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody no can bring it home
(Nobody no can bring it home)
(Nobody no can bring it home)
Seventeen and dumb
Look at me I know right from wrong
You and me we got something on
And I don't need to hear that come come
And I don't need to hear that come come
Make you mine with the diamonds in the right sack
Give it time and I'm gonna get you right back
Saw the signs and I never ever fight back
I keep it tight 'cause I know you really like that
Do it right and you know I'm gonna hype that
Write the rhymes and I'll sing it to you right back
And I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody know know knows that
I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody no can bring it home
Nobody no can bring it home
(Nobody no can bring it home)
(Nobody no can bring it home)
Sick sick sick sick sick
So tired of the best dress
Didn't really want to keep it for the rest
Oh oh oh
So I skipped to the next best
Didn't really know that
I was gonna end up here
And I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody know know knows that
I left my heart in Tokyo
Down by the river don't you know
I had to let it go
Nobody no can bring it home
Nobody no can bring it home
(Nobody no can bring it home)
(Nobody no can bring it home)
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
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
Frankee: It's about how nobody can live up to that guy you had in Tokyo. All other guys can get lost really! -Digital Spy interview