"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.
"This song was written by John Lee Hooker
About his wife, her name is Maudie
Everytime he has an argument with her
He has to write a new verse to keep her happy
He was over here at London a short while back
And he taught me this song ......."
Oh Maudie, baby, I love you
Mmm, baby, I love you
Yeah, you've been gone so long
Girl, I miss you so
Oh Maudie, why did you hurt me?
Mmm, Maudie, I said why did you hurt me?
You know I need your sweet lovin' like a flower needs the rain
Sometimes when they'd have an argument
He'd take her by the hand and say,
"Maudie, you know I love you
You know I need you
And I got just one thing to say baby - ho!"
Hey Maudie, baby don't you know I love you
Oh, Maudie, I said baby don't you know I love you
I've been gone so long, God, I miss you so much
Sometimes Johns old lady
She'd turn around to him and say,
"John, if you don't quit your messin' around baby,
I'm gonna walk right outta that door
With my bag in my hand."
John would say, "Hey!"
Well, Maudie, sweet little girl, baby,
Oh Maudie, be my sweet little girl, baby,
When you touch my hand
My head is all in a whirl now baby
I love you Maudie
I said I love you Maudie
Oh, love you Maudie
Ooh, love you Maudie
You know I need, I need, I need, need, yeah
I said Maudie, baby, I love you
Oh Maudie, baby, I love you
I love you Maudie
You've been gone so long,
How I've missed you too much
I love you.
About his wife, her name is Maudie
Everytime he has an argument with her
He has to write a new verse to keep her happy
He was over here at London a short while back
And he taught me this song ......."
Oh Maudie, baby, I love you
Mmm, baby, I love you
Yeah, you've been gone so long
Girl, I miss you so
Oh Maudie, why did you hurt me?
Mmm, Maudie, I said why did you hurt me?
You know I need your sweet lovin' like a flower needs the rain
Sometimes when they'd have an argument
He'd take her by the hand and say,
"Maudie, you know I love you
You know I need you
And I got just one thing to say baby - ho!"
Hey Maudie, baby don't you know I love you
Oh, Maudie, I said baby don't you know I love you
I've been gone so long, God, I miss you so much
Sometimes Johns old lady
She'd turn around to him and say,
"John, if you don't quit your messin' around baby,
I'm gonna walk right outta that door
With my bag in my hand."
John would say, "Hey!"
Well, Maudie, sweet little girl, baby,
Oh Maudie, be my sweet little girl, baby,
When you touch my hand
My head is all in a whirl now baby
I love you Maudie
I said I love you Maudie
Oh, love you Maudie
Ooh, love you Maudie
You know I need, I need, I need, need, yeah
I said Maudie, baby, I love you
Oh Maudie, baby, I love you
I love you Maudie
You've been gone so long,
How I've missed you too much
I love you.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Maudie Lyrics as written by John Lee Hooker
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
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
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.
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.