"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.
Oh I'll bet I know what you like
At least think I know what you might
I'm not the most cocksure guy
But I get all bold with every smile
So please, show me your teeth, I'll show mine
I sure hope our P's and Q's don't mind
Cause I've been alone quite some time
And I've got to scratch this itch of mine
And I think I know what you know
I'm not that smooth but I'm not blind
The hours pass us by as gin slips slowly
Past our tingling spines, cheeks warm and glowing
I'm a social mess but not yet slurring
The words that come to rest upon my luring tongue
Oh I'll bet I know what you like
At least think I know what you might
I'm not the most cocksure guy
But I still sure fight the good hard fight
Try as I may, try I might
I'll ever scratch this itch of mine
We've all got our vices, this one's mine
So I might not smoke but I get high
Underneath this fleshy robe lies a beast with no control
I fed it once look how it's grown
Oh my god, bring me peace from this wolf covered in fleece
I can't shake loose from its teeth
Oh my god, set me free
I have no ability to cut my leash and walk away
With every passing night my conscience lessens
And seems to pacify these guilt filled sessions
Now I'm a social pest but not yet willing
To put my laws to rest till I'm done filling these holes
I'll bet I know what you like
At least think I know what you might
And I'm not the most cocksure man (?)
I take what I get and get what I can
At least think I know what you might
I'm not the most cocksure guy
But I get all bold with every smile
So please, show me your teeth, I'll show mine
I sure hope our P's and Q's don't mind
Cause I've been alone quite some time
And I've got to scratch this itch of mine
And I think I know what you know
I'm not that smooth but I'm not blind
The hours pass us by as gin slips slowly
Past our tingling spines, cheeks warm and glowing
I'm a social mess but not yet slurring
The words that come to rest upon my luring tongue
Oh I'll bet I know what you like
At least think I know what you might
I'm not the most cocksure guy
But I still sure fight the good hard fight
Try as I may, try I might
I'll ever scratch this itch of mine
We've all got our vices, this one's mine
So I might not smoke but I get high
Underneath this fleshy robe lies a beast with no control
I fed it once look how it's grown
Oh my god, bring me peace from this wolf covered in fleece
I can't shake loose from its teeth
Oh my god, set me free
I have no ability to cut my leash and walk away
With every passing night my conscience lessens
And seems to pacify these guilt filled sessions
Now I'm a social pest but not yet willing
To put my laws to rest till I'm done filling these holes
I'll bet I know what you like
At least think I know what you might
And I'm not the most cocksure man (?)
I take what I get and get what I can
Lyrics submitted by equivalence, edited by colvent
Taos Lyrics as written by Daniel Frederic Seim Brent Knopf
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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,
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.
It is "SESSIONS," not sections. As in, sessions of sex with random women.
And it's "I'll NEVER scratch this itch of mine," by which he means that no matter how much he gets, it will never be enough.