"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.
I go wild cause you break me open
Wild cause you left me here
I go wild
Wild because the chips are down
Wild because there isn't anybody else around
Wild when the waves start to break
And God knows they're breaking in me now
Wild 'cause it doesn't make sense
For me to cry out in my own defense
Wild 'cause I would do anything
To tear you off your precious fence
So this is what it's like living in limbo
First I'm high then I'm solo
I go wild
'Cause you break me open
Wild
'Cause you left me here
I go wild
'Cause your promises are broken
Wild
When I know you're near
I go wild
I go wild
Tell me what you've come for
Moving like a hunter through my back door
Leaving the perfume of all you adore
To die nameless on my floor
Yeah well we both know you don't play fair
I guess you really think that you get me there
Let's be honest perhaps this little ride
Is too much for even you to bear
You've got a lot of nerve to come back here
You're not the only one who can smell fear
I go wild
'Cause you break me open
Wild
'Cause you left me here
I go wild
'Cause your promises are broken
Wild
Don't you get it dear
You're not the only one who lives on instincts
No I've got instincts of my own
You've got a lot of nerve to come back
Plan your attack yeah I am still waiting
You wrote the rules to try to contain me
You broke 'em
Now you have untamed me
I go wild
I go wild
Tell me what you've come for
What is it you adore
Won't you tell me?
What would you
Go wild for?
You've got a lot of nerve to come back here
Speak up my darling I have been waiting
I go wild
'Cause you break me open
Wild
'Cause you left me here
I go wild
'Cause your promises are broken
Wild
Don't you get it dear
You're not the only one who lives on instincts
No I've got instincts of my own
You've got a lot of nerve to come back
Plan your attack yeah I am still waiting
You wrote the rules to try and contain me
You broke 'em
Now you have untamed me
I go wild
I go wild
Communication is more than just words, communication is architecture,
Because of course it is quite obvious that a house which would be built without that
Will that desire to communicate, would not look the way your house looks today
Wild cause you left me here
I go wild
Wild because the chips are down
Wild because there isn't anybody else around
Wild when the waves start to break
And God knows they're breaking in me now
Wild 'cause it doesn't make sense
For me to cry out in my own defense
Wild 'cause I would do anything
To tear you off your precious fence
So this is what it's like living in limbo
First I'm high then I'm solo
I go wild
'Cause you break me open
Wild
'Cause you left me here
I go wild
'Cause your promises are broken
Wild
When I know you're near
I go wild
I go wild
Tell me what you've come for
Moving like a hunter through my back door
Leaving the perfume of all you adore
To die nameless on my floor
Yeah well we both know you don't play fair
I guess you really think that you get me there
Let's be honest perhaps this little ride
Is too much for even you to bear
You've got a lot of nerve to come back here
You're not the only one who can smell fear
I go wild
'Cause you break me open
Wild
'Cause you left me here
I go wild
'Cause your promises are broken
Wild
Don't you get it dear
You're not the only one who lives on instincts
No I've got instincts of my own
You've got a lot of nerve to come back
Plan your attack yeah I am still waiting
You wrote the rules to try to contain me
You broke 'em
Now you have untamed me
I go wild
I go wild
Tell me what you've come for
What is it you adore
Won't you tell me?
What would you
Go wild for?
You've got a lot of nerve to come back here
Speak up my darling I have been waiting
I go wild
'Cause you break me open
Wild
'Cause you left me here
I go wild
'Cause your promises are broken
Wild
Don't you get it dear
You're not the only one who lives on instincts
No I've got instincts of my own
You've got a lot of nerve to come back
Plan your attack yeah I am still waiting
You wrote the rules to try and contain me
You broke 'em
Now you have untamed me
I go wild
I go wild
Communication is more than just words, communication is architecture,
Because of course it is quite obvious that a house which would be built without that
Will that desire to communicate, would not look the way your house looks today
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Wild Lyrics as written by Stephen Billeaud Nora Patterson
Lyrics © RINCON AVE MUSIC, Songtrust Ave, 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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.