"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.
Let's get it on!
It's time to get in the game,
You gotta fight 'til it hurts
And then you do it again
Let's tear it up!
I'm staying straight to the core,
Ain't no room for second place,
Go big or go home!
Rise!
It's dog eat dog
Rise!
Man versus beast
Rise!
The strong will survive
Rise!
I've got no time for the weak
It's time to rise up, man up, get back up,
Never bend and won't be broken
Dust off and then come back for more
You've gotta reach down, dig deep, and break ground,
Show them all you won't be beaten
Brush it off and then come back for more!
Come back for more
It's do or die!
Time to settle the score,
Gotta give it all you got and then you give it some more
There will be blood
You've gotta fight 'til you break,
Talk a lot of trash and step up to the plate
Rise!
Refuse to give in
Rise!
Ashes to dust
Rise!
Make 'em remember your name
Rise!
'cause in yourself you can trust
It's time to rise up, man up, get back up,
Never bend and won't be broken
Dust off and then come back for more
You've gotta reach down, dig deep, and break ground,
Show them all you won't be beaten
Brush it off and then come back for more!
Come back for more
Rah!
It's time to rise up, man up, get back up,
Never bend and won't be broken
Dust off and then come back for more
You've gotta reach down, dig deep, and break ground,
Show them all you won't be beaten
Brush it off and then come back for more
Come back for more
Rah!
It's time to get in the game,
You gotta fight 'til it hurts
And then you do it again
Let's tear it up!
I'm staying straight to the core,
Ain't no room for second place,
Go big or go home!
Rise!
It's dog eat dog
Rise!
Man versus beast
Rise!
The strong will survive
Rise!
I've got no time for the weak
It's time to rise up, man up, get back up,
Never bend and won't be broken
Dust off and then come back for more
You've gotta reach down, dig deep, and break ground,
Show them all you won't be beaten
Brush it off and then come back for more!
Come back for more
It's do or die!
Time to settle the score,
Gotta give it all you got and then you give it some more
There will be blood
You've gotta fight 'til you break,
Talk a lot of trash and step up to the plate
Rise!
Refuse to give in
Rise!
Ashes to dust
Rise!
Make 'em remember your name
Rise!
'cause in yourself you can trust
It's time to rise up, man up, get back up,
Never bend and won't be broken
Dust off and then come back for more
You've gotta reach down, dig deep, and break ground,
Show them all you won't be beaten
Brush it off and then come back for more!
Come back for more
Rah!
It's time to rise up, man up, get back up,
Never bend and won't be broken
Dust off and then come back for more
You've gotta reach down, dig deep, and break ground,
Show them all you won't be beaten
Brush it off and then come back for more
Come back for more
Rah!
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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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.
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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.
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.
I think this line says it all:
"It's time to rise up, man up, get back up".
1 comment?!!?! this is the best song they've put out. So fucking hard.
Yes, but Raise Up by Petey Pablo is better:)
I think this song is about no matter how hard life hits you, you've gotta get back up, and try even harder.
Just wanna throw out there that this is the best song to workout to.. I mean if you want to be pumped up.