"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.
When you kiss me, and say you love me
It makes me feel so good
I wanna break down and give in to you
I wanna believe that you're the one
Gimme my pills, and sing this strange song
And all my hurting goes away
I start to drift off with you beside me
I wanna believe that you're the one
Cry and cry and let it out
We have to face that it's over now
Even as I anoint your door
I'm looking out for something more
Cry and cry, I'm crying too
'Cause no one touches me like you do
I don't want my mom to know that I've been a dirty boy
I try my darnedest to be a bastard
I want you to think that I don't care
But I feel sorry, and you're so pretty
You start to cry and I kiss your mouth
Cry and cry and let it out
We have to face that it's over now
Even as I anoint your door
I'm looking out for something more
Cry and cry, I'm crying too
'Cause no one touches me like you do
I don't want my mom to know that I've been a dirty boy
You're a tragic girl, you lead a tragic life
I'm just meant to be your latest tragedy
This ain't no butterfly girl, this ain't no butterfly love
I'm just meant to be your latest tragedy
I try my darnedest to be a bastard
I want you to think that I don't care
But you're so pretty, and I feel sorry
I start to cry and I kiss your mouth
I don't want my mom to know that I've been a dirty boy
You're a tragic girl, you lead a tragic life
I'm just meant to be your latest tragedy
This ain't no butterfly girl, this ain't no butterfly love
I'm gonna have to be your latest tragedy
It makes me feel so good
I wanna break down and give in to you
I wanna believe that you're the one
Gimme my pills, and sing this strange song
And all my hurting goes away
I start to drift off with you beside me
I wanna believe that you're the one
Cry and cry and let it out
We have to face that it's over now
Even as I anoint your door
I'm looking out for something more
Cry and cry, I'm crying too
'Cause no one touches me like you do
I don't want my mom to know that I've been a dirty boy
I try my darnedest to be a bastard
I want you to think that I don't care
But I feel sorry, and you're so pretty
You start to cry and I kiss your mouth
Cry and cry and let it out
We have to face that it's over now
Even as I anoint your door
I'm looking out for something more
Cry and cry, I'm crying too
'Cause no one touches me like you do
I don't want my mom to know that I've been a dirty boy
You're a tragic girl, you lead a tragic life
I'm just meant to be your latest tragedy
This ain't no butterfly girl, this ain't no butterfly love
I'm just meant to be your latest tragedy
I try my darnedest to be a bastard
I want you to think that I don't care
But you're so pretty, and I feel sorry
I start to cry and I kiss your mouth
I don't want my mom to know that I've been a dirty boy
You're a tragic girl, you lead a tragic life
I'm just meant to be your latest tragedy
This ain't no butterfly girl, this ain't no butterfly love
I'm gonna have to be your latest tragedy
Lyrics submitted by whybother737
Tragic Girl Lyrics as written by Rivers Cuomo
Lyrics © E O Smith Music
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
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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Page
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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.
it's "you lead a tragic life" and not "you need a tragic guy" i think.
Wow. I hear an album - hate it. Wait two years- love it. Wait 12 years - hear some more of it. True pinkerton awesomeness.
finally...
Thanks for the correction, Baron.
Rivers was big into Puccini's Madame Butterfly for the Pinkerton album. Most of the songs contain references to the opera throughout the album. The references to Butterfly coincide with the theme of the opera, and River's identification with his "Pinkerton" side. You would have to read up on or watch the opera for a comprehensive explanation, but basically, the character Pinkerton (Rivers) lies to Butterfly (Tragic Girl), which results in her death - a tragedy.
Its not a reference to Madame Butterfly. Its about his personal nurse who helped him recover from his leg surgery. He found her to be much more helpfel than his mother(I think his mother) because she would listen to his complaining about his life and his negative feelings. I also think he eventually created a relationship with her in his own mind.