"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.
Why was I born in these trifling ass times?
Why is it mandatory that I carry nines?
Don't be to civil 'cause even white folks get jacked to
Doctors, high class lawyers and even Japs too
You ask me why I speak the real the way I feel
How come we call bitches hoes and you call us negros?
They want to do me like they did Stacks
What is this young black man doing with all that scratch? huh
I see some timahs on the yayo track readin they mail
Talking bout "I got white girl for sale"
But they ain't talking to me 'cause I'm an oldie and they knows that
I used to be just like them I tell them "y'all get that scratch"
Magazine was never nothing like Bel Air
High speed shot outs and shit, but I loved it there
40 where you've been playa', it's been a while?
Marinatin' accumulating paper pal
Y'all kind of doin' it huh, you still grindin'?
Hell yeah, you know them tapes you keep rewinding
Money ain't changed me, money changed the way people think about me
When I was broke all I had was my family
You know what kills me doe them fuckin' numskulls
I hate when blacks be clowin blacks on all these talk shows
It's bad enough we shootin' up each other tragically
Two days ago they found some brother smothered badly
Nobody's to be trusted in this day and age
To much jealousy and envy on the wrong page
And fuck the po po because that 39% tax I pay
Don't get me Nathan but a choke hold and some pepper spray
It's all bad
Our father who art in heaven
Hollow it be thy name thy kingdom come
That's the prayer that I say so spread the word
And if you feeling down and out read proverbs
You know that I've been tweakin' off something strange
Startin to see a lot of women's at the shootin' range
Domestic violence but here's an old ghetto myth
My potnas auntie scold her boyfriend with some hot grits
I'm from the G-E double T-T to the oh no
Where only few dare to go
I spits game like a soldier
Tonk since I told you this
Rap kingpin giant, six year old vocalist
You don't want to see me
Do it like I do that
All up in your tall-can face I tell you get more scrilascratch
Y'alll need to get up on it
The game is way to deep
I'm not your average hustler
I be creepin' while you sleep
Game, Straight game
Get up on it, Straight game
It's all bad
Why is it mandatory that I carry nines?
Don't be to civil 'cause even white folks get jacked to
Doctors, high class lawyers and even Japs too
You ask me why I speak the real the way I feel
How come we call bitches hoes and you call us negros?
They want to do me like they did Stacks
What is this young black man doing with all that scratch? huh
I see some timahs on the yayo track readin they mail
Talking bout "I got white girl for sale"
But they ain't talking to me 'cause I'm an oldie and they knows that
I used to be just like them I tell them "y'all get that scratch"
Magazine was never nothing like Bel Air
High speed shot outs and shit, but I loved it there
40 where you've been playa', it's been a while?
Marinatin' accumulating paper pal
Y'all kind of doin' it huh, you still grindin'?
Hell yeah, you know them tapes you keep rewinding
Money ain't changed me, money changed the way people think about me
When I was broke all I had was my family
You know what kills me doe them fuckin' numskulls
I hate when blacks be clowin blacks on all these talk shows
It's bad enough we shootin' up each other tragically
Two days ago they found some brother smothered badly
Nobody's to be trusted in this day and age
To much jealousy and envy on the wrong page
And fuck the po po because that 39% tax I pay
Don't get me Nathan but a choke hold and some pepper spray
It's all bad
Our father who art in heaven
Hollow it be thy name thy kingdom come
That's the prayer that I say so spread the word
And if you feeling down and out read proverbs
You know that I've been tweakin' off something strange
Startin to see a lot of women's at the shootin' range
Domestic violence but here's an old ghetto myth
My potnas auntie scold her boyfriend with some hot grits
I'm from the G-E double T-T to the oh no
Where only few dare to go
I spits game like a soldier
Tonk since I told you this
Rap kingpin giant, six year old vocalist
You don't want to see me
Do it like I do that
All up in your tall-can face I tell you get more scrilascratch
Y'alll need to get up on it
The game is way to deep
I'm not your average hustler
I be creepin' while you sleep
Game, Straight game
Get up on it, Straight game
It's all bad
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
It's All Bad Lyrics as written by Derek Barbosa Arthur Ross
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/