"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.
I can tell by the way
When I'm holding you tight
Something is wrong
No it's never been right
I can see by the way
That you stare in my eyes
Tempted and there's nothing inside
What if I told you
That I've been thinking
I've been dreaming 'bout you
And all the things I always thought that we'd do
But it was never enough
[Chorus]
I can't figure out
Why you don't love me now
So why'd you tear me down
I'm faceless in the crowd
So tell me is this real
'Cause I can't help but feel
I'm heading for heart-ache
Can I make you feel
Like you've never been kissed
Like a picture you paint
Will I ever be missed
Would you stay if I told you my love wouldn't change
If your hair turns grey
If you gain a little weight
What if I told you
That I've been thinking
I've been dreaming 'bout you
And all the things I always thought that we'd do
But it was never enough
[Chorus]
I'm heading for heart-ache
I'm not giving you up
I'm not giving you up
(I'm heading for heart-ache)
[Chorus]
When I'm holding you tight
Something is wrong
No it's never been right
I can see by the way
That you stare in my eyes
Tempted and there's nothing inside
What if I told you
That I've been thinking
I've been dreaming 'bout you
And all the things I always thought that we'd do
But it was never enough
[Chorus]
I can't figure out
Why you don't love me now
So why'd you tear me down
I'm faceless in the crowd
So tell me is this real
'Cause I can't help but feel
I'm heading for heart-ache
Can I make you feel
Like you've never been kissed
Like a picture you paint
Will I ever be missed
Would you stay if I told you my love wouldn't change
If your hair turns grey
If you gain a little weight
What if I told you
That I've been thinking
I've been dreaming 'bout you
And all the things I always thought that we'd do
But it was never enough
[Chorus]
I'm heading for heart-ache
I'm not giving you up
I'm not giving you up
(I'm heading for heart-ache)
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by MusicFREAK20
I Can Tell Lyrics as written by Trevor Brice Stafford Rick Dejesus
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
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.
There was a few minor mistakes in the lyrics but there were also some pretty big ones. Here are the correct lyrics with the corrections in all caps:
I can tell by the way When I'm holding you tight Something IS wrong No it's never been right I can SEE by the way That you stare in my eyes It's empty in you And there's nothing inside
What if I told you That I've been thinking and I've been dreaming of you And all the things I always thought that we'd do What if it's never enough
OH I can't FIGURE OUT WHY you don't love me now So why'd you tear me down I'm faceless in the CROWD So tell me IS THIS real Because I can't help but feel I'm heading for heartache
Can I make you feel Like you've never been kissed Like a picture you paint Will I ever be missed Would you stay if I told you My love wouldn't change If your HAIR turns GREY If you GAIN a little WEIGHT
What if I told you That I've been thinking and I've been dreaming of you And all the things I always thought that we'd do What if it's never enough
OH I can't FIGURE OUT WHY you don't love me now So why'd you tear me down I'm faceless in the CROWD So tell me IS THIS real Because I can't help but feel I'm heading for heartache I'm heading for heartache
I'm not giving you up I'm not giving you up I'm heading for heartache
OH I can't FIGURE OUT WHY you don't love me now So why'd you tear me down I'm faceless in the CROWD So tell me IS THIS real Because I can't help but feel I'm heading for heartache
After listening to it some more, 'What if it's never enough' should definitely be 'but it was never enough.' Sorry I didn't catch that earlier.