"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.
Money is the anthem, of success, so before we go out
What's your address?
I'm your national anthem, God, you're so handsome
Take me to the Hamptons, Bugatti Veyron
He loves to romance 'em, reckless abandon
Holdin' me for ransom, upper echelon
He says to be cool but, I don't know how yet
Wind in my hair, hand on the back of my neck
I said, "Can we party later on?" He said, "Yes" (yes, yes)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the reason we exist
Everybody knows it, it's a fact, kiss, kiss
I sing the national anthem
While I'm standing over your body, hold you like a python
And you can't keep your hands off me, or your pants on
See what you've done to me, King of Chevron?
He said to be cool but, I'm already coolest
I said to get real, don't you know who you're dealing with?
Um, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds?
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
It's a love story for the new age
For the six-page, we're on a quick, sick rampage
Winin' and dinin', drinkin' and drivin', excessive buyin'
Overdose and dyin' on our drugs and our love
And our dreams and our rage
Blurrin' the lines between real and the fake
Dark and lonely, I need somebody to hold me
He will do very well, I can tell, I can tell
Keep me safe in his Bell Tower Hotel
Money is the anthem of success
So put on mascara and your party dress
I'm your national anthem, boy put your hands up
Give me a standing ovation
Boy, you have landed, babe, in the land of
Sweetness and danger, queen of Saigon
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
What's your address?
I'm your national anthem, God, you're so handsome
Take me to the Hamptons, Bugatti Veyron
He loves to romance 'em, reckless abandon
Holdin' me for ransom, upper echelon
He says to be cool but, I don't know how yet
Wind in my hair, hand on the back of my neck
I said, "Can we party later on?" He said, "Yes" (yes, yes)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the reason we exist
Everybody knows it, it's a fact, kiss, kiss
I sing the national anthem
While I'm standing over your body, hold you like a python
And you can't keep your hands off me, or your pants on
See what you've done to me, King of Chevron?
He said to be cool but, I'm already coolest
I said to get real, don't you know who you're dealing with?
Um, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds?
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
It's a love story for the new age
For the six-page, we're on a quick, sick rampage
Winin' and dinin', drinkin' and drivin', excessive buyin'
Overdose and dyin' on our drugs and our love
And our dreams and our rage
Blurrin' the lines between real and the fake
Dark and lonely, I need somebody to hold me
He will do very well, I can tell, I can tell
Keep me safe in his Bell Tower Hotel
Money is the anthem of success
So put on mascara and your party dress
I'm your national anthem, boy put your hands up
Give me a standing ovation
Boy, you have landed, babe, in the land of
Sweetness and danger, queen of Saigon
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
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
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.
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.
A national anthem is a song of devotion to one's country, and I think she uses it as a metaphor to show her devotion to and love for this twisted man. But in general, as we all know, the song is about the rich, superficial lives of the upper class. Constantly through the song she refers to various places, objects, and concepts associated with the rich. Lana loves talking about the privileged, upper class in her music. I think the song is very sexual for a number of reasons: (1) Chanting "Red, White, Blue, is in the sky. Summer's in the air, and, baby, heaven's in your eyes. I'm your national anthem" seems very sexual, like an orgasm to me (think about it!); (2) "Can't keep your pants on" or "Put your hands up" or "Give me a standing ovation" (erection); (3) "Standing over your body, hold you like a python", which sounds like a penis to me, but also snakes are obviously very dangerous. She shows more confidence in this song than any other (sans Radio) on the album.