"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.
When the school lets out and the shifts are done
Get the boys together get a ball get a run
Lace up the sneaks kick off them shoes
I'll admit I play to win yo cause I don't like to lose
At Seger Park they've got the competition
Good moves baby -- I'm the definition
They shooting hoops
Yeah Yeah Yeah
They playing basketball
I learned at Old Pine, see I'm the school yard hustler
I had my hardknocks now I'm an off the backboard buster
I could fake to the left penetrate like Mike
Or 360 in the air as Dominique might
I could pass like Magic
I could shoot like the Bird, after a Doctor J dunk
The courtside drunk said good lord
They shooting hoops
Yeah Yeah Yeah
They playing basketball
Lunch from a hot dog stand a pretzel and a pop
We've been playing all day cuase we've had this court nonstop
The city sun is hot -- all the courts they steaming
Bright eyed young ball handlers are believing and dreaming
Hoping some day all this playing will be paying
That's what all the sideline junkies smoking reefer keep saying
They shooting hoops
Yeah Yeah Yeah
They playing basketball
Get the boys together get a ball get a run
Lace up the sneaks kick off them shoes
I'll admit I play to win yo cause I don't like to lose
At Seger Park they've got the competition
Good moves baby -- I'm the definition
They shooting hoops
Yeah Yeah Yeah
They playing basketball
I learned at Old Pine, see I'm the school yard hustler
I had my hardknocks now I'm an off the backboard buster
I could fake to the left penetrate like Mike
Or 360 in the air as Dominique might
I could pass like Magic
I could shoot like the Bird, after a Doctor J dunk
The courtside drunk said good lord
They shooting hoops
Yeah Yeah Yeah
They playing basketball
Lunch from a hot dog stand a pretzel and a pop
We've been playing all day cuase we've had this court nonstop
The city sun is hot -- all the courts they steaming
Bright eyed young ball handlers are believing and dreaming
Hoping some day all this playing will be paying
That's what all the sideline junkies smoking reefer keep saying
They shooting hoops
Yeah Yeah Yeah
They playing basketball
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Shooting Hoops Lyrics as written by Garrett Dutton
Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
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.