"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.
Good dreams.
Sky!
[What would I want? Sky!]
Is everything alright?
You feeling moany?
You feeling lonely?
You're not the only
Is everything alright?
You feeling stormy?
You feeling phoney?
You're not the only
Do you get up up up?
Clouds stop and move above me
Too bad they can't help me
What is the right way?
Do I float up up up?
When I stop and look around me
Grey is where the color should be
What is the right way?
Old glasses clinking and a
New order's blinking
and I -
I should be floating but I'm weighted by thinking
That I got on the river
Really can't make you change
And the sky gets filled up too fast
and the taxi man's saying, "You betta
give me some money; stop daydreaming, dude!"
When the point of horizon is hiding from you
What would you want sky?
Are you taking it lightly?
Lost in the flurries
You start to worry
You will be buried
Taking it lightly
and so I hurry
I start to worry
Here come them flurries
Is everything alright?
You feeling lonely?
You feeling moldy?
You're not the only
Is everything alright?
You feeling stormy?
You feeling foamy?
You're not the only
Do you get up up up?
Clouds stop and move above me
Too bad they can't help me
What is the right way?
Do I float up up up?
When I stop and look around me
Grey is where that color should be
What is the right way?
Old glasses clinking and a
New order's blinking and I -
I should be floating but I'm weighted by thinking
I'm a fly on the river
That'll make me some change
When the sky gets filled up too fast
and the taxi cab's waiting, "You betta
give him some money;
stop daydreaming, dude!"
When the point of horizon is hiding it's blues
What would you want sky?
What would I want? Sky!
What would I want? Sky!
Sky!
[What would I want? Sky!]
Is everything alright?
You feeling moany?
You feeling lonely?
You're not the only
Is everything alright?
You feeling stormy?
You feeling phoney?
You're not the only
Do you get up up up?
Clouds stop and move above me
Too bad they can't help me
What is the right way?
Do I float up up up?
When I stop and look around me
Grey is where the color should be
What is the right way?
Old glasses clinking and a
New order's blinking
and I -
I should be floating but I'm weighted by thinking
That I got on the river
Really can't make you change
And the sky gets filled up too fast
and the taxi man's saying, "You betta
give me some money; stop daydreaming, dude!"
When the point of horizon is hiding from you
What would you want sky?
Are you taking it lightly?
Lost in the flurries
You start to worry
You will be buried
Taking it lightly
and so I hurry
I start to worry
Here come them flurries
Is everything alright?
You feeling lonely?
You feeling moldy?
You're not the only
Is everything alright?
You feeling stormy?
You feeling foamy?
You're not the only
Do you get up up up?
Clouds stop and move above me
Too bad they can't help me
What is the right way?
Do I float up up up?
When I stop and look around me
Grey is where that color should be
What is the right way?
Old glasses clinking and a
New order's blinking and I -
I should be floating but I'm weighted by thinking
I'm a fly on the river
That'll make me some change
When the sky gets filled up too fast
and the taxi cab's waiting, "You betta
give him some money;
stop daydreaming, dude!"
When the point of horizon is hiding it's blues
What would you want sky?
What would I want? Sky!
What would I want? Sky!
Lyrics submitted by YerBlueJayWay, edited by aubryfr
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I'm already in love.
Same
I've told at least 30 people about this song, whether or not they've ever heard of AC or not, this is just a damn good tune :)