"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.
Don't want to close the door
Don't want to give up on it
Don't want to fight no more
We'll find a way around it
Where's the love we had
We can make it last
Tell me what I gotta be
Tell me what you want to do
'Cause I can't live my life
The way you want me to
You know I can't go on
Livin' like we do
Do I have to cry for you
Do I have to cry for you
So tell me what it's for
If there's no winner in it
Nobody's keepin' score
Let's start from the beginning
Can we make it last?
With the love we had
Tell me what I gotta be
Tell me what you want to do
'Cause I can't live my life
The way you want me to
You know I can't go on
Livin' like we do
Do I have to cry for you
Do I have to cry for you
Do I gotta stand in the cold dark night till the morning light, yeah
Do I have to say 'I won't let you get away'
What do I gotta be?
Tell me what you want to do?
I can't live my life, the way you want me to
You know I can't go on, living like we do?
Do I have to cry for you?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah hold on
You know I can't go on, living like we do
Do I have to cry for you?
Do I have to cry for you?
Don't want to give up on it
Don't want to fight no more
We'll find a way around it
Where's the love we had
We can make it last
Tell me what I gotta be
Tell me what you want to do
'Cause I can't live my life
The way you want me to
You know I can't go on
Livin' like we do
Do I have to cry for you
Do I have to cry for you
So tell me what it's for
If there's no winner in it
Nobody's keepin' score
Let's start from the beginning
Can we make it last?
With the love we had
Tell me what I gotta be
Tell me what you want to do
'Cause I can't live my life
The way you want me to
You know I can't go on
Livin' like we do
Do I have to cry for you
Do I have to cry for you
Do I gotta stand in the cold dark night till the morning light, yeah
Do I have to say 'I won't let you get away'
What do I gotta be?
Tell me what you want to do?
I can't live my life, the way you want me to
You know I can't go on, living like we do?
Do I have to cry for you?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah hold on
You know I can't go on, living like we do
Do I have to cry for you?
Do I have to cry for you?
Lyrics submitted by AshleyRose
Do I Have to Cry for You Lyrics as written by Brian Anthony Kierulf Brian Kierulf
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
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@[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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
Great song! One of my favorites on the album... lovely ballad!