"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.
Lights on, stage set
I guess I gotta put on a show again
'Cause everyone's waiting
Females, fly jets
When I turn the radio on
I hear all my songs playing, yeah
Whatever money can buy
I probably got it
That's real talk, yeah
I see my name in the sky all over the world
And I just sit hear saying, lucky me
I gotta pose for the cameras
Even when my world's falling down
I still wear a smile
Lucky me
Even though I'm so damaged
I gotta pick myself up and perform for the crowd
Lucky me
Plenty of my loved ones wanna be stars
'Cause nobody said it would be so hard
Wouldn't put this on no one else
Yeah, lucky me
So exclusive
I don't have to wait in the line
It's like the club is mine now
If it was only that simple
Then what I'm saying is easy to do
And we know that's not true
Whatever money can buy
I probably got it
That's real talk, yeah
I see my name in the sky all over the world
And I just sit hear saying, lucky me
I gotta pose for the cameras
Even when my world's falling down
I still wear a smile
Lucky me
Even though I'm so damaged
I gotta pick myself up and perform for the crowd
Lucky me
Complaining to my loved ones I wanna be a star
But no one ever told me it would be so hard
I wouldn't put this on no one else
Yeah, lucky me
My dream and it's my heart
The life of being a star
You don't even know how hard it is, do you, yeah
Now I'm thankfully for everything
And I'm finally becoming a man
Now I gotta bigger a show to do
Lucky me
I gotta pose for the cameras
Even when my world's falling down
I still wear a smile
Lucky me
Even though I'm so damaged
I gotta pick myself up and perform for the crowd
Lucky me
Complaining to my loved ones I wanna be a star
But no one ever told me it would be so hard
I wouldn't put this on no one else
Yeah, lucky me
I guess I gotta put on a show again
'Cause everyone's waiting
Females, fly jets
When I turn the radio on
I hear all my songs playing, yeah
Whatever money can buy
I probably got it
That's real talk, yeah
I see my name in the sky all over the world
And I just sit hear saying, lucky me
I gotta pose for the cameras
Even when my world's falling down
I still wear a smile
Lucky me
Even though I'm so damaged
I gotta pick myself up and perform for the crowd
Lucky me
Plenty of my loved ones wanna be stars
'Cause nobody said it would be so hard
Wouldn't put this on no one else
Yeah, lucky me
So exclusive
I don't have to wait in the line
It's like the club is mine now
If it was only that simple
Then what I'm saying is easy to do
And we know that's not true
Whatever money can buy
I probably got it
That's real talk, yeah
I see my name in the sky all over the world
And I just sit hear saying, lucky me
I gotta pose for the cameras
Even when my world's falling down
I still wear a smile
Lucky me
Even though I'm so damaged
I gotta pick myself up and perform for the crowd
Lucky me
Complaining to my loved ones I wanna be a star
But no one ever told me it would be so hard
I wouldn't put this on no one else
Yeah, lucky me
My dream and it's my heart
The life of being a star
You don't even know how hard it is, do you, yeah
Now I'm thankfully for everything
And I'm finally becoming a man
Now I gotta bigger a show to do
Lucky me
I gotta pose for the cameras
Even when my world's falling down
I still wear a smile
Lucky me
Even though I'm so damaged
I gotta pick myself up and perform for the crowd
Lucky me
Complaining to my loved ones I wanna be a star
But no one ever told me it would be so hard
I wouldn't put this on no one else
Yeah, lucky me
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
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.
When I first heard this song, I haven't really sat down and actually LISTEN to he words. I just thought, "Oh greatttt, another slow love sappy song most likely talking about Rihanna." but in reality, it's such a beautiful song speaking about fame.
In this song, he's basically being sarcastic about how awesome being famous is while it also has it's down falls as well. He's talking about all the perks of being famous like the girls, the paparazzi, the big shows, the fans, the material things, the money, etc. However, even though he has "it all" that doesn't take away from the fact that he's hurting inside and goes through pain. No matter how rich or famous you are, money doesn't buy you happiness. He's saying "Lucky me" because that's how everyone on the outside see's his life as, everyone thinks he's so lucky to be famous and have the nice cars, clothes, and houses but Chris is responding by saying that "Yes, I am famous and I have everything you could ever wish for but that doesn't mean that I'm not human and I don't have feelings. I still go through pain just like everyone else."