"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 is a story that goes back for generations
My daddy told me when I was little,
And, and his daddy told him when he was little,
And, and well, great-granddad Malfoy told granddad Malfoy when he was little,
and, and well heck, this Christmas story goes back as far as there've been Death Eaters themselves!
It's the story about the time that...
Voldemort stayed up real late so he could visit with Santa Claus
He asked him for a puppy, 'cause Voldemort loves those little paws!
You see, one Christmas eve a long time ago
Little orphan Voldemort was in his orphan hole down at the orphanage
You see, Voldemort was an orphan
A poor and lonely orphan
He didn't even have enough money to cobble two sticks together
And he was lonely
Boy, was he lonely!
Nobody loved little old orphan Voldemort
Because noone loves an orphan!
The thing he wanted, more than anything else
Was just a friend
A friend that wouldn't mind being kicked and punched and spelled on
Because, that's just the way that little orphan Voldemort played
He didn't know any better
And what better friend for little orphan Voldemort, than a puppy!
The problem was
There was only one way that little orphan Voldemort could get his puppy
And that was through Santa Claus
So this one particular Christmas eve
Voldemort stayed up really, really late!
Way past his bedtime
So he could meet Santa Claus
He was passing the time by painting rainbows on the backs of ants
And letting them loose in his ant farm
Voldemort had conditioned his ant farm to be violently intolerant towards gay ants
While he was watching the fun, there arose such a clatter
And then there appeared Santa Claus!
"Ey, it's-a me, Santa Claus!
Whats'a matter you being up'a so late, huh?"
said Santa Claus
"Hello, dear Santa Claus!
My name's Tom Widdle
But my fwiends call me Voldemort!
I weally want a puppy
Can I have a puppy for Chwistmas,
Pweatty pwease?"
said Voldemort
"Ey, what kind of fool do you think I am-a?
You's a very, very bad boy!
You no get a puppy,"
said Santa Claus
"Aw, shucks, mister!
But, pweeease?"
said Voldemort
"Nooo!"
said Santa Claus
"But, pweeease?"
said Voldemort
"Nooo!"
said Santa Claus
"But, but, I wanna tell you something!"
said Voldemort
"What's the matter?"
said Santa Claus
"Imperio!"
Just then, little orphan Voldemort's eyes turned a deep scarlet red
And little Tom Riddle
Entered the mind of Santa Claus
"This is your Dark Lord Voldemort.
Put the puppy in the stocking if you wish not to be harmed.
If you fail to put the puppy in the stocking, you will be harmed.
If you put the puppy in the stocking, you will not be harmed."
And with a glazed look in his eye
Santa Claus reached into his bag of puppies
Grabbed one and put it in Voldemort's stocking
"Thank you-a so nice"
said Santa Claus
"Thanks, mr Santa Cwaus!
Aw, my goodness
My very own puppy!"
And then, with a *poof*
Santa Claus disappeared in a cloud of Christmas cheer
And little orphan Voldemort was left with his puppy
Who he loved and tortured for the rest of his days
And that was the story of how...
Voldemort stayed up real late so he could visit with Santa Claus
He asked him for a puppy, 'cause Voldie just loves those little paws!
My daddy told me when I was little,
And, and his daddy told him when he was little,
And, and well, great-granddad Malfoy told granddad Malfoy when he was little,
and, and well heck, this Christmas story goes back as far as there've been Death Eaters themselves!
It's the story about the time that...
Voldemort stayed up real late so he could visit with Santa Claus
He asked him for a puppy, 'cause Voldemort loves those little paws!
You see, one Christmas eve a long time ago
Little orphan Voldemort was in his orphan hole down at the orphanage
You see, Voldemort was an orphan
A poor and lonely orphan
He didn't even have enough money to cobble two sticks together
And he was lonely
Boy, was he lonely!
Nobody loved little old orphan Voldemort
Because noone loves an orphan!
The thing he wanted, more than anything else
Was just a friend
A friend that wouldn't mind being kicked and punched and spelled on
Because, that's just the way that little orphan Voldemort played
He didn't know any better
And what better friend for little orphan Voldemort, than a puppy!
The problem was
There was only one way that little orphan Voldemort could get his puppy
And that was through Santa Claus
So this one particular Christmas eve
Voldemort stayed up really, really late!
Way past his bedtime
So he could meet Santa Claus
He was passing the time by painting rainbows on the backs of ants
And letting them loose in his ant farm
Voldemort had conditioned his ant farm to be violently intolerant towards gay ants
While he was watching the fun, there arose such a clatter
And then there appeared Santa Claus!
"Ey, it's-a me, Santa Claus!
Whats'a matter you being up'a so late, huh?"
said Santa Claus
"Hello, dear Santa Claus!
My name's Tom Widdle
But my fwiends call me Voldemort!
I weally want a puppy
Can I have a puppy for Chwistmas,
Pweatty pwease?"
said Voldemort
"Ey, what kind of fool do you think I am-a?
You's a very, very bad boy!
You no get a puppy,"
said Santa Claus
"Aw, shucks, mister!
But, pweeease?"
said Voldemort
"Nooo!"
said Santa Claus
"But, pweeease?"
said Voldemort
"Nooo!"
said Santa Claus
"But, but, I wanna tell you something!"
said Voldemort
"What's the matter?"
said Santa Claus
"Imperio!"
Just then, little orphan Voldemort's eyes turned a deep scarlet red
And little Tom Riddle
Entered the mind of Santa Claus
"This is your Dark Lord Voldemort.
Put the puppy in the stocking if you wish not to be harmed.
If you fail to put the puppy in the stocking, you will be harmed.
If you put the puppy in the stocking, you will not be harmed."
And with a glazed look in his eye
Santa Claus reached into his bag of puppies
Grabbed one and put it in Voldemort's stocking
"Thank you-a so nice"
said Santa Claus
"Thanks, mr Santa Cwaus!
Aw, my goodness
My very own puppy!"
And then, with a *poof*
Santa Claus disappeared in a cloud of Christmas cheer
And little orphan Voldemort was left with his puppy
Who he loved and tortured for the rest of his days
And that was the story of how...
Voldemort stayed up real late so he could visit with Santa Claus
He asked him for a puppy, 'cause Voldie just loves those little paws!
Lyrics submitted by AspiaLynx
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.