"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.
CROSS THE RIVER
WRITER CARLY SIMON
A hot cloud was hanginÂ'around We were a rowdy crowd
DrinkinÂ'beer and smokinÂ' at the end of the pier Danny was shufflinÂ' through a magazine ClippinÂ'out pictures of a car To get us out of here Laura was hounding him to get a bike
Warning him the time was now Or heÂ'd be out on his ear, sheÂ'd disappear If only we could cross the river We couldnÂ't get a jump-start on life The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears Louder in our ears every night
We were all somewhat out of school Jersey by birth, relaxing but not on a holiday An appalling amount of time spent at the mall Not a tragedy, but not exactly the Milky Way Looking for a bigger laugh, a better store, A cutter guy, a shorter working day, better pay If only we could cross the river We couldnÂ't get a jump-start on life The whispers across the Hudson Grow louder in our ears Louder in our ears Louder in our ears every night When Laura and Danny broke up She set her sights on Billy Stone Well, I had just split from Jonathan So by chance, I was all alone Danny and I got along as well We spent hours on the phone Just talkinÂ'on the phone When I was twenty and crazy as a joke I went to bed with a broker
When I was broke I got used to doormen and limousines
And Christmas cards from friends signed by a machine And woman, they were calling me "MaÂ'am" As they cleaned up after me If only we could cross the river But something is holding us back A way of life thatÂ's too familiar Like the lines are to the railroad track If only we could cross the river We couldnÂ't get a jump-start on life The whispers across the Hudson Grow louder in our ears Louder in our ears every night Dear Laura, I know itÂ's been years Since I crossed the bridge back to the Palisades How are your kids? Mine are both swell little fellas Here are some clippings of me and Brad
At a charity ball and a White House sup IÂ've perfected my smile for the camera Chin is up I miss you all so much If only I could cross the river But something me holding us back
A way of life thatÂ's too familiar Like the lines are to the railroad Lines are to the railroad
If only we could cross the river
We couldnÂ't get a jump-start on life
The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears
Louder in our ears
If only we could cross the river
But something is holding us back
A way of life thatÂ's too familiar
Like the lines are to the railroad
Lines are to the railroad
Railroad track
WRITER CARLY SIMON
A hot cloud was hanginÂ'around We were a rowdy crowd
DrinkinÂ'beer and smokinÂ' at the end of the pier Danny was shufflinÂ' through a magazine ClippinÂ'out pictures of a car To get us out of here Laura was hounding him to get a bike
Warning him the time was now Or heÂ'd be out on his ear, sheÂ'd disappear If only we could cross the river We couldnÂ't get a jump-start on life The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears Louder in our ears every night
We were all somewhat out of school Jersey by birth, relaxing but not on a holiday An appalling amount of time spent at the mall Not a tragedy, but not exactly the Milky Way Looking for a bigger laugh, a better store, A cutter guy, a shorter working day, better pay If only we could cross the river We couldnÂ't get a jump-start on life The whispers across the Hudson Grow louder in our ears Louder in our ears Louder in our ears every night When Laura and Danny broke up She set her sights on Billy Stone Well, I had just split from Jonathan So by chance, I was all alone Danny and I got along as well We spent hours on the phone Just talkinÂ'on the phone When I was twenty and crazy as a joke I went to bed with a broker
When I was broke I got used to doormen and limousines
And Christmas cards from friends signed by a machine And woman, they were calling me "MaÂ'am" As they cleaned up after me If only we could cross the river But something is holding us back A way of life thatÂ's too familiar Like the lines are to the railroad track If only we could cross the river We couldnÂ't get a jump-start on life The whispers across the Hudson Grow louder in our ears Louder in our ears every night Dear Laura, I know itÂ's been years Since I crossed the bridge back to the Palisades How are your kids? Mine are both swell little fellas Here are some clippings of me and Brad
At a charity ball and a White House sup IÂ've perfected my smile for the camera Chin is up I miss you all so much If only I could cross the river But something me holding us back
A way of life thatÂ's too familiar Like the lines are to the railroad Lines are to the railroad
If only we could cross the river
We couldnÂ't get a jump-start on life
The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears
Louder in our ears
If only we could cross the river
But something is holding us back
A way of life thatÂ's too familiar
Like the lines are to the railroad
Lines are to the railroad
Railroad track
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Cross the River Lyrics as written by Carly Simon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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."
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,
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.