"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.
A catfish he tends to groove on the water
It's just where he's bound to be
And a monkey kinds of flashes on fruits and bananas
So he lives in the top of a tree
But my eyes are made for darkness
And so the nighttime is right for me
Said I'm a night owl, honey
Sleep all day long
Now most folks they like the good day time
They like to see the shining sun
They're up in the morning
Off and running
'Till they're too tired for having fun
But when the sun goes down
And them bright light shine
My daytime has just begun
I'm a night owl, honey
Sleep all day long
Said turn off that bright light, baby
You're just about to drive me blind
Draw them curtains for me, mama
You watch and you'll see
How my love light shines
Now, there's two sides to this
Great big world
And one of them is always night
Hey, if you can take care of
Business in the sunshine, baby
I guess you're gonna be alright
But don't come looking for string bean
To lend you a hand
Because my eyes they can't stand the light
No, I'm a night owl, honey
Sleep all, sleep all day long
I said sleep all day long
I'm a night owl, honey
It's just where he's bound to be
And a monkey kinds of flashes on fruits and bananas
So he lives in the top of a tree
But my eyes are made for darkness
And so the nighttime is right for me
Said I'm a night owl, honey
Sleep all day long
Now most folks they like the good day time
They like to see the shining sun
They're up in the morning
Off and running
'Till they're too tired for having fun
But when the sun goes down
And them bright light shine
My daytime has just begun
I'm a night owl, honey
Sleep all day long
Said turn off that bright light, baby
You're just about to drive me blind
Draw them curtains for me, mama
You watch and you'll see
How my love light shines
Now, there's two sides to this
Great big world
And one of them is always night
Hey, if you can take care of
Business in the sunshine, baby
I guess you're gonna be alright
But don't come looking for string bean
To lend you a hand
Because my eyes they can't stand the light
No, I'm a night owl, honey
Sleep all, sleep all day long
I said sleep all day long
I'm a night owl, honey
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Night Owl Lyrics as written by Forbes Alasdair Henderson Claudia Figuroa
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.