"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.
The sun is shining on my eyes
The daylight has returned
To live in dreams has been so fine,
but I had to come back
Everything is different here
from where we have been
I'm so sad because I know
that we won't meet again
I miss you my friend, ooh, and I miss your land
where I've been really free
I had to go back to this crazy world
I'm gonna cry the same old tears
I used to think that all was right,
but I was so wrong
Now I've learned that there's a place
where all is really fair
War exploding everywhere
I feel so insecure
I will have to learn again
to live in this sad way
I miss you my friend, ooh, and I miss your land
where I've been really free
I'm going back to this crazy world
I'm going to bear the same old lies
I'm back to reality
And I miss you, yeah, I miss you so much
It's not where I want to live
And I miss you, yeah, I miss you so much
It's all over and now I'm back to reality
I miss you my friend, ooh, and I miss your land
where I've been really free
I had to go back to this crazy world
I'm gonna cry the same old tears
I'm back to reality
And I miss you, yeah, I miss you so much
It's not where I want to live
And I miss you, yeah, I miss you so much
It's all over and now I'm back to reality
I'm back...I'm back...I'm back
Yeah!
The daylight has returned
To live in dreams has been so fine,
but I had to come back
Everything is different here
from where we have been
I'm so sad because I know
that we won't meet again
I miss you my friend, ooh, and I miss your land
where I've been really free
I had to go back to this crazy world
I'm gonna cry the same old tears
I used to think that all was right,
but I was so wrong
Now I've learned that there's a place
where all is really fair
War exploding everywhere
I feel so insecure
I will have to learn again
to live in this sad way
I miss you my friend, ooh, and I miss your land
where I've been really free
I'm going back to this crazy world
I'm going to bear the same old lies
I'm back to reality
And I miss you, yeah, I miss you so much
It's not where I want to live
And I miss you, yeah, I miss you so much
It's all over and now I'm back to reality
I miss you my friend, ooh, and I miss your land
where I've been really free
I had to go back to this crazy world
I'm gonna cry the same old tears
I'm back to reality
And I miss you, yeah, I miss you so much
It's not where I want to live
And I miss you, yeah, I miss you so much
It's all over and now I'm back to reality
I'm back...I'm back...I'm back
Yeah!
Lyrics submitted by Octavarium64
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
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.