"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.
This here's the story of Tossed By The Wind,
The Wind, out on his own with deceptions of men.
He was warned by his momma,
"Son don't listen to them"
And here's what she said to our friend,
"Be sure that no one takes you captive
By the decption of men
Cause you will find it to be tragic in the end."
To begin He was with him, with him and glad,
Oh yeah.
Mr Pure-and-Simple was the only one he knew,
Oh and all that he had, oh yeah.
'Til he heard from the learned,
"Son your facts are all wrong."
The Jesus he knew got cut out of his song.
Now he sings praises to Hume all day long.
Be sure that no one takes you captive
By the decption of men,
Oh cause you will find it to be tragic in the end.
Oh, we've been infecting your sons and your daughters.
Make all checks payable to your alma mater.
They're training for life on their own,
So far from home.
This here's the story of Tossed By The Wind,
Who was cursed by his thurst for the wisdom of men.
Now broken and hopeless, he heard from within
A still small voice calling to him.
Lies always fail in the end,
Truth will prevail in the end,
My grace is sufficient my friend.
Be sure that no one takes you captive
By the decption of men,
Oh cause you will find it to be tragic in the end.
Oh. Be sure that no one takes you captive
By the decption of men
Cause you will find it to be tragic in the end, yeah.
The Wind, out on his own with deceptions of men.
He was warned by his momma,
"Son don't listen to them"
And here's what she said to our friend,
"Be sure that no one takes you captive
By the decption of men
Cause you will find it to be tragic in the end."
To begin He was with him, with him and glad,
Oh yeah.
Mr Pure-and-Simple was the only one he knew,
Oh and all that he had, oh yeah.
'Til he heard from the learned,
"Son your facts are all wrong."
The Jesus he knew got cut out of his song.
Now he sings praises to Hume all day long.
Be sure that no one takes you captive
By the decption of men,
Oh cause you will find it to be tragic in the end.
Oh, we've been infecting your sons and your daughters.
Make all checks payable to your alma mater.
They're training for life on their own,
So far from home.
This here's the story of Tossed By The Wind,
Who was cursed by his thurst for the wisdom of men.
Now broken and hopeless, he heard from within
A still small voice calling to him.
Lies always fail in the end,
Truth will prevail in the end,
My grace is sufficient my friend.
Be sure that no one takes you captive
By the decption of men,
Oh cause you will find it to be tragic in the end.
Oh. Be sure that no one takes you captive
By the decption of men
Cause you will find it to be tragic in the end, yeah.
Lyrics submitted by biancajade, edited by gnarlyhat
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Fast Car
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Wanted to correct the line, "Now he sings praises to him all day long." It should be, "Now he sings praises to Hume all day long."
This is in reference to David Hume, a famous philosopher known for his skepticism. The verse makes much more sense with this change, as the young man who began with a child-like faith lost it due to the influence of "the learned". As a somewhat young man of faith myself, and in college, I can attest to the endless stream of doubt and disbelief from both classmates and professors, even (and often) though they can't see or understand their own belief (or lack thereof).
Hope this helped!