"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.
There we go, okay, okay, don't do me greazy, okay
Uh, ay, you know what a oneeds?
Do you really know what a dog needs?
A dog needs a- (what? What?)
A dog needs a- (come on)
Not just any, uh, but a real, uh
That's gon' hold that dog down
Baby, I am what I am, I'm gon' be who I be (uh)
Everything from chasing a cat, to- on a tree (uh-huh)
Let me see what I gotta to see
Do what I gotta to do, dog for life, but keep it true
Every once in a while I'll break out the backyard to roam (uh)
And get reckless, but I still know that home is home (a'ight)
And when I get there I'ma sit there
Take a, uh, there, put my, uh, there
Do I handle my business? (What?) yeah
I'ma run 'til I bust my gun and empty the clip
And if I come home, and gotta go, just give me the whip
I ain't got time for the lip, just open the fence (uh-huh)
Let me go, I'll come back, I ain't got time to convince (uh)
Ever since I was a pup I've been stuck with the street- (come on)
Keep the heat (uh, uh, uh), gotta eat-
I pass on a weak-, if it's out there I want it
All at one time, so when it's my time I've done it (a'ight)
I know you'd kill for me, you'd die for me
I know you like to rip and run the streets
But I get nervous sometimes, hey baby, I can't help to think
You might not make it home to eat, I barely sleep (come on)
Could you pick up a phone and call me at home
And let me know you ain't in some heat?
And don't come crying, you're grown
You know I'm looking out for you
'Cause you be looking out for me, me, me
Yo, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece (uh)
Said, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law (come on)
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece (uh, uh)
I know you up in it all
Could you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece, piece, piece?
And, oh boy, I know you got to do what you do (uh, uh, uh)
You're making moves
I'm making moves, yo, we cool (what? What? What?)
Stay on your paws, I got your back if you fall
Nothing's too big
Nothing's too small, just go ball (uh, come on)
Dog tags around my neck (uh), the streets are mine
I might leave the heat behind
'Cause in the streets, I'm fine (what?)
That's why a (what?) A sleep 'til nine, out by ten (uh)
Back by ten (uh), sleep 'til nine, do it again
If you love something, let it go (uh huh)
If it comes back to you, it yours
If it doesn't (uh), you never know
You got me, I got you (uh), dog with a dog
Ride 'til we die (what?), If it's on, then it's on
Yo, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece (uh)
Said, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law (come on)
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece (uh, uh)
I know you up in it all
Could you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece, piece, piece?
Yo, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
Said, you can go with your dogs (come on)
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law (what? What? What?)
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece (uh, uh)
I know you up in it all
Could you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece, piece, piece?
Yo, you can go with your dogs (piece)
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
Said, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
I know you up in it all
Could you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece, piece, piece?
Yo, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
Said, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law
Uh, ay, you know what a oneeds?
Do you really know what a dog needs?
A dog needs a- (what? What?)
A dog needs a- (come on)
Not just any, uh, but a real, uh
That's gon' hold that dog down
Baby, I am what I am, I'm gon' be who I be (uh)
Everything from chasing a cat, to- on a tree (uh-huh)
Let me see what I gotta to see
Do what I gotta to do, dog for life, but keep it true
Every once in a while I'll break out the backyard to roam (uh)
And get reckless, but I still know that home is home (a'ight)
And when I get there I'ma sit there
Take a, uh, there, put my, uh, there
Do I handle my business? (What?) yeah
I'ma run 'til I bust my gun and empty the clip
And if I come home, and gotta go, just give me the whip
I ain't got time for the lip, just open the fence (uh-huh)
Let me go, I'll come back, I ain't got time to convince (uh)
Ever since I was a pup I've been stuck with the street- (come on)
Keep the heat (uh, uh, uh), gotta eat-
I pass on a weak-, if it's out there I want it
All at one time, so when it's my time I've done it (a'ight)
I know you'd kill for me, you'd die for me
I know you like to rip and run the streets
But I get nervous sometimes, hey baby, I can't help to think
You might not make it home to eat, I barely sleep (come on)
Could you pick up a phone and call me at home
And let me know you ain't in some heat?
And don't come crying, you're grown
You know I'm looking out for you
'Cause you be looking out for me, me, me
Yo, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece (uh)
Said, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law (come on)
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece (uh, uh)
I know you up in it all
Could you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece, piece, piece?
And, oh boy, I know you got to do what you do (uh, uh, uh)
You're making moves
I'm making moves, yo, we cool (what? What? What?)
Stay on your paws, I got your back if you fall
Nothing's too big
Nothing's too small, just go ball (uh, come on)
Dog tags around my neck (uh), the streets are mine
I might leave the heat behind
'Cause in the streets, I'm fine (what?)
That's why a (what?) A sleep 'til nine, out by ten (uh)
Back by ten (uh), sleep 'til nine, do it again
If you love something, let it go (uh huh)
If it comes back to you, it yours
If it doesn't (uh), you never know
You got me, I got you (uh), dog with a dog
Ride 'til we die (what?), If it's on, then it's on
Yo, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece (uh)
Said, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law (come on)
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece (uh, uh)
I know you up in it all
Could you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece, piece, piece?
Yo, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
Said, you can go with your dogs (come on)
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law (what? What? What?)
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece (uh, uh)
I know you up in it all
Could you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece, piece, piece?
Yo, you can go with your dogs (piece)
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
Said, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
I know you up in it all
Could you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece, piece, piece?
Yo, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
Said, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
TUFF SONG TOO BAD U CANT REP IT NE MORE BAK GO D M X
This song was about being down; straight up. Just a girl worrying about her man, and naking sure he makes it back home to her safely. I love the beat, and DMX added realness to it... like Aaliyah was speaking directly to him. I t was good song.
Cute song! they do good together... no wonder he was so sad in her I miss you video..RIP Aaliyah
best sonq yo . 'if you love somethinq, let it qo, if it comes back to you, it's yours . if it doesn't ; fuck it , you'll never know'
thats like my favorite line out of any sonq , its amazinqqq =] and so true , could keep a lotttt of people from qettinq hurt in the lonq run . i wanna have it tattooed on me :]