"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.
Hang up that red dress
Let down your hair
Cancel those reservations
There's no need to go nowhere
As good as your looking right now
Girl, I bet your thinkin' I'm crazy
There's a side of you that I wanna see
That never ceases to amaze me
Gimme that girl with the hair in a mess
Sleepy little smile with her head on my chest
That's the you that I like best
Gimme that girl
Gimme that girl lovin' up on me
Old t-shirt and a pair of jeans
That's the you I wanna see
Gimme that girl
Gimme the girl that's beautiful
Without a trace of makeup on
Barefoot in the kitchen
Singing her favorite song
Dancing around like a fool
Starring in her own little show
Gimme the girl that the rest of the world
Ain't lucky enough to know
Gimme that girl with the hair in a mess
Sleepy little smile with her head on my chest
That's the you that I like best
Gimme that girl
Gimme that girl lovin' up on me (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
Old t-shirt and a pair of jeans (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
That's the you I wanna see (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
Gimme that girl, gimme that girl
Gimme that girl with the hair in a mess
Sleepy little smile with her head on my chest
That's the you that I like best
Gimme that girl
Gimme that girl lovin' up on me (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
Old t-shirt and a pair of jeans (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
That's the you I wanna see (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
Gimme that girl, gimme that girl (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
Let down your hair
Cancel those reservations
There's no need to go nowhere
As good as your looking right now
Girl, I bet your thinkin' I'm crazy
There's a side of you that I wanna see
That never ceases to amaze me
Gimme that girl with the hair in a mess
Sleepy little smile with her head on my chest
That's the you that I like best
Gimme that girl
Gimme that girl lovin' up on me
Old t-shirt and a pair of jeans
That's the you I wanna see
Gimme that girl
Gimme the girl that's beautiful
Without a trace of makeup on
Barefoot in the kitchen
Singing her favorite song
Dancing around like a fool
Starring in her own little show
Gimme the girl that the rest of the world
Ain't lucky enough to know
Gimme that girl with the hair in a mess
Sleepy little smile with her head on my chest
That's the you that I like best
Gimme that girl
Gimme that girl lovin' up on me (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
Old t-shirt and a pair of jeans (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
That's the you I wanna see (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
Gimme that girl, gimme that girl
Gimme that girl with the hair in a mess
Sleepy little smile with her head on my chest
That's the you that I like best
Gimme that girl
Gimme that girl lovin' up on me (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
Old t-shirt and a pair of jeans (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
That's the you I wanna see (gimme gimme gimme that girl)
Gimme that girl, gimme that girl (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
(Gimme gimme gimme that girl) (gimme that girl)
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
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.
I love this song, I wish that someone would sing it to me.
Anywho, my interpretation is that he wants his wife or girlfriend to just be herself, he loves her that way, not with loads of makeup or fancy clothes on. He'd take her with her hair in a mess and a tshirt and jeans on.