"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.
A wager a wager and you'll go with me
away to the May blooming field
a maiden you will go to the bloomfield hill
but a maiden you never will return
A wager, a wager and I will go with you
away to the May blooming field
a maiden I will go to the bloomfield hill
and a maiden I will return
So away went this young man,
his wager for to win
away to the May blooming field
He sat himself down
by the clear flowing stream
and he fell fast asleep on the bank
Nine times she walked
Around the crown of his head
and nine times she walked around his feet
Nine times she kissed his red ruby lips
as he lay on the bank fast asleep
And the ring that she wore on her little finger
the same did she place on his own
that it might be a token of her love to him
that she had been there and was gone
If I was awake as I was asleep
this maiden she never would have fled
It's her I would have killed,
her blood I would have spilled
and the birds told the story of the dead
Oh hard-hearted young man,
hard-hearted youth
Your heart's as hard as any stone
For to think to kill one
who had loved you so long
and I'll weep o'er the grave you lie in.
away to the May blooming field
a maiden you will go to the bloomfield hill
but a maiden you never will return
A wager, a wager and I will go with you
away to the May blooming field
a maiden I will go to the bloomfield hill
and a maiden I will return
So away went this young man,
his wager for to win
away to the May blooming field
He sat himself down
by the clear flowing stream
and he fell fast asleep on the bank
Nine times she walked
Around the crown of his head
and nine times she walked around his feet
Nine times she kissed his red ruby lips
as he lay on the bank fast asleep
And the ring that she wore on her little finger
the same did she place on his own
that it might be a token of her love to him
that she had been there and was gone
If I was awake as I was asleep
this maiden she never would have fled
It's her I would have killed,
her blood I would have spilled
and the birds told the story of the dead
Oh hard-hearted young man,
hard-hearted youth
Your heart's as hard as any stone
For to think to kill one
who had loved you so long
and I'll weep o'er the grave you lie in.
Lyrics submitted by ihavenomouth
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.