"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.
We saw in the dawn from the roof of the bar
When nights become days and you've gone too far
We listened to songbirds and rush hour cars and welcomed in the day
You said, "London in summertime is great,
On days like this I feel like I could escape
From things that I've done and mistakes that I've made.
I'd wash it all away"
We bathed like swimmers in the morning sun,
And waited for our night to end
It felt like one of us would come down hard
And one of us would start again
It started out curious, it started out fun
We smoked in the woods when we were young
And secretly slipped something under our tongues
And danced the night away
And everyone stumbles on old cocaine
It burns out the flesh, and it burdens the brain
'Til brown comes and whisks away your pain
And you find you've lost your way
We bathed like swimmers in the morning sun,
Waiting for our night to end
It felt like one of us would come down hard
And one of us would start again
Sink in the river for your death
Swallow forever 'til nothing's left
Sleep with the fishes, draw no breath
Take no rest
Oh my friend,
Look to the shore you'd see us here,
We're waiting
Oh my friend, if you made for the shore,
You'd see us here, we're all waiting
Don't sink in the river for your death
Could start fresh tomorrow, leave what's left
You could sleep in the shade, draw some breath
Please draw breath, please draw breath
Let's let nights become days
So come down kid the roofs not safe now
All my friends are waiting for you to get some rest
When nights become days and you've gone too far
We listened to songbirds and rush hour cars and welcomed in the day
You said, "London in summertime is great,
On days like this I feel like I could escape
From things that I've done and mistakes that I've made.
I'd wash it all away"
We bathed like swimmers in the morning sun,
And waited for our night to end
It felt like one of us would come down hard
And one of us would start again
It started out curious, it started out fun
We smoked in the woods when we were young
And secretly slipped something under our tongues
And danced the night away
And everyone stumbles on old cocaine
It burns out the flesh, and it burdens the brain
'Til brown comes and whisks away your pain
And you find you've lost your way
We bathed like swimmers in the morning sun,
Waiting for our night to end
It felt like one of us would come down hard
And one of us would start again
Sink in the river for your death
Swallow forever 'til nothing's left
Sleep with the fishes, draw no breath
Take no rest
Oh my friend,
Look to the shore you'd see us here,
We're waiting
Oh my friend, if you made for the shore,
You'd see us here, we're all waiting
Don't sink in the river for your death
Could start fresh tomorrow, leave what's left
You could sleep in the shade, draw some breath
Please draw breath, please draw breath
Let's let nights become days
So come down kid the roofs not safe now
All my friends are waiting for you to get some rest
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
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.
Definitely about drug addiction and a strung out friend right?