"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.
All this time
Ive been bearing it alone
Never had a single doubt in my mind
You passed me by
When I was barely hanging on
But you were there when I was doing just fine
Caroline
Gonna take your own advice
Won't think twice
Because you are not worth my time
'Cause you'll be there waiting when I'm back on top
And you'll be there saying you gave me what I've got
You're just another voice in the chorus
You're just another voice in the chorus
Singing, just another voice in the chorus
Say you knew it all along
You're just another voice in the chorus
You're just another voice in the chorus
Singing, just another voice in the chorus
Bet you knew it all along
Tell me where you have been all this time,
Caroline
Big surprise
You're the last one to arrive
And the first to cut in line
Sacrifice
Something you don't know about
But something I can't get around
In my life
'Cause you'll be there waiting when I'm back on top
And you'll be there saying you gave me what I've got
But you're just another voice in the chorus
You're just another voice in the chorus
Singing, just another voice in the chorus
Say you knew it all along
You're just another voice in the chorus
You're just another voice in the chorus
Singing, just another voice in the chorus
Bet you knew it all along
Tell me where you have been all this time,
Caroline
Ooo
Woah woah
Woah woah
Woah woah
Woah woah
'Cause you've never really known
Until you're all on your own
And the words come out all wrong
Oh you've never really known
Oh you never really know
Til its dark and its cold
There's no one to call you home
Oh you've never really known
Your true colors will be shown
When you're out all alone
And everything comes out all wrong
When you find it you will know
Oh oh
You're just another voice in the chorus
You're just another voice in the chorus
Bet you knew it all along
Woah woah
Woah woah
Woah woah
(Knew it all knew it all knew it all along)
Ive been bearing it alone
Never had a single doubt in my mind
You passed me by
When I was barely hanging on
But you were there when I was doing just fine
Caroline
Gonna take your own advice
Won't think twice
Because you are not worth my time
'Cause you'll be there waiting when I'm back on top
And you'll be there saying you gave me what I've got
You're just another voice in the chorus
You're just another voice in the chorus
Singing, just another voice in the chorus
Say you knew it all along
You're just another voice in the chorus
You're just another voice in the chorus
Singing, just another voice in the chorus
Bet you knew it all along
Tell me where you have been all this time,
Caroline
Big surprise
You're the last one to arrive
And the first to cut in line
Sacrifice
Something you don't know about
But something I can't get around
In my life
'Cause you'll be there waiting when I'm back on top
And you'll be there saying you gave me what I've got
But you're just another voice in the chorus
You're just another voice in the chorus
Singing, just another voice in the chorus
Say you knew it all along
You're just another voice in the chorus
You're just another voice in the chorus
Singing, just another voice in the chorus
Bet you knew it all along
Tell me where you have been all this time,
Caroline
Ooo
Woah woah
Woah woah
Woah woah
Woah woah
'Cause you've never really known
Until you're all on your own
And the words come out all wrong
Oh you've never really known
Oh you never really know
Til its dark and its cold
There's no one to call you home
Oh you've never really known
Your true colors will be shown
When you're out all alone
And everything comes out all wrong
When you find it you will know
Oh oh
You're just another voice in the chorus
You're just another voice in the chorus
Bet you knew it all along
Woah woah
Woah woah
Woah woah
(Knew it all knew it all knew it all along)
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
its obvious what this song is about. its about that friend that everyone has that is constantly there for you when your life is going great and as soon as something bad happens the always gone and never there to help. it talks about how its hard to actually find someone that you can trust.