"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.
killing your darlings ain't easy
i ain't saying it is
holding the knife above Isaac,
he's just a kid
son, you will be many
look at the stars above
tell me how many you're thinking of
chorus
the ships we took far are weeping at the harbor
can you lend us a shoulder?
jacob please take me up your secret ladder
i just need a reminder
the candlelight is fading
i'm squinting at the page
trying to find the words to keep faith
so paint my eyes with saliva if that's what it takes
the heart is such a heartbreaker when it breaks
i ain't saying it is
holding the knife above Isaac,
he's just a kid
son, you will be many
look at the stars above
tell me how many you're thinking of
chorus
the ships we took far are weeping at the harbor
can you lend us a shoulder?
jacob please take me up your secret ladder
i just need a reminder
the candlelight is fading
i'm squinting at the page
trying to find the words to keep faith
so paint my eyes with saliva if that's what it takes
the heart is such a heartbreaker when it breaks
Lyrics submitted by whoacassie
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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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I can't believe no one has commented on this song yet.
They way they sing it is so heartfelt that you know this song comes from experience. In the music video, you can practically see them living in their pasts when they sing it.
I personally think it's all about keeping faith. In the bible, it talks about Jacob and the stairs or ladder, to heaven.
'Jacob please take me up your secret ladder. I just need a reminder.'
Whether they need faith in God or something else is up to the one's hearing it. They don't make specifics, only in the second verse.
'I'm squinting at the page. Trying to find the words to keep faith.'
That can also mean the bible, but they never mention it either.
I think you take it as you want to. Good songs morph when you need them to, and I think this song can mean whatever you need it to when you need it to.