"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.
Life's filled with gray
But now, it comes clean
Leaves fall, away
Hip-hop is playing again
And it's bangin', too
Know it's bangin', for you
Don't stop this feeling I feel
I just wanna lay around all day
And feel the breeze upon my knees
I'm so into your rich history
Tell me a story to take me away
Come and take me, oh
Come and take me with you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Uh, uh, one step at a time, a man walked on the moon
One record got played, Kool Herc said boom
One minute young man, your time come soon
We waiting, it was prophesied you loon
We bang our drums, enter message through sound
We wrasslers and we takin' over your town
Hands sweatin', it's critiquing all this vibe I'm gettin'
Playlist setting: Cold Crush, Furious Five, and the Masterdon
Cosmic Force, Bammbaataa, Jazzy 5
Lovebug Starski, Junebug, Busy Bee
Run, D, Jay, LL, Kane, Biz Markie
Doug E., Will, Barry B., Spoonie, Schooly D
Rakim, BDP, Dana Dane, Ricky D
Leaders of the New School, Snoop Dogg, Monie Love
B.I.G. and Pac are up above, Eazy-E and Bone Thugz
Fat and Skinny Boys, Cash Money and the rapper Nas
Large Professor, Lauryn, Wyclef, and Pras
Brand Nubian, Diamond D, Ludacris, and Jay
R.I.P. Pimp C, Common, Lil Wayne, and 'Ye
Primo, OutKast, where my nigga Dilla at?
S.V. uh uh, where my nigga Dilla at
And when you look into my eyes, it makes all these feelings rise
Makes my space better place, can't you see it in my face?
Life is better, since I found you
But now, it comes clean
Leaves fall, away
Hip-hop is playing again
And it's bangin', too
Know it's bangin', for you
Don't stop this feeling I feel
I just wanna lay around all day
And feel the breeze upon my knees
I'm so into your rich history
Tell me a story to take me away
Come and take me, oh
Come and take me with you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Life is, better
Now that, now that I found you
Uh, uh, one step at a time, a man walked on the moon
One record got played, Kool Herc said boom
One minute young man, your time come soon
We waiting, it was prophesied you loon
We bang our drums, enter message through sound
We wrasslers and we takin' over your town
Hands sweatin', it's critiquing all this vibe I'm gettin'
Playlist setting: Cold Crush, Furious Five, and the Masterdon
Cosmic Force, Bammbaataa, Jazzy 5
Lovebug Starski, Junebug, Busy Bee
Run, D, Jay, LL, Kane, Biz Markie
Doug E., Will, Barry B., Spoonie, Schooly D
Rakim, BDP, Dana Dane, Ricky D
Leaders of the New School, Snoop Dogg, Monie Love
B.I.G. and Pac are up above, Eazy-E and Bone Thugz
Fat and Skinny Boys, Cash Money and the rapper Nas
Large Professor, Lauryn, Wyclef, and Pras
Brand Nubian, Diamond D, Ludacris, and Jay
R.I.P. Pimp C, Common, Lil Wayne, and 'Ye
Primo, OutKast, where my nigga Dilla at?
S.V. uh uh, where my nigga Dilla at
And when you look into my eyes, it makes all these feelings rise
Makes my space better place, can't you see it in my face?
Life is better, since I found you
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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