"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.
You keep running away
Though I beg you not to leave
But still you won't stay
Darlin' you keep running away
Tear my heart apart every step of the way
You're here today and gone tomorrow
Leavin' this heart of mine in sorrow
Now you come around every now and then
Long enough to hurt me, and then you're gone again
Darlin' you, you keep running away
Oh, I begged you not to leave, you never stay
Now you, you keep running away
Leavin' me here to face another lonely day
To you all of this is just a game
But each time you came here, I feel the pain
But I've got so much love for you
I keep wanting you, no matter what you do
All I want to do is take care of you
Everything I have in my life, I'll share with you
This soul of mine has been possessed by you
Darling my heart has been obsessed with you
Just look at me, I'm not the man, I used to be
I used to be proud, I used to be strong
But all of that's changed girl, since you come along
Your lovin' sweetness is my weakness
Though I need you, dear, I just can't keep you near
Running away, running away, running away
Running away, running away, running away
Each time you go, the hurt comes callin'
My days become nights, darlin'
My nights become so much longer
You're in my life, you're in my heart
But I can't get you, get you into my arms
Darlin' you, you keep runnin' away
Darlin' you, you just keep runnin' away
Though I beg you not to leave
But still you won't stay
Darlin' you keep running away
Tear my heart apart every step of the way
You're here today and gone tomorrow
Leavin' this heart of mine in sorrow
Now you come around every now and then
Long enough to hurt me, and then you're gone again
Darlin' you, you keep running away
Oh, I begged you not to leave, you never stay
Now you, you keep running away
Leavin' me here to face another lonely day
To you all of this is just a game
But each time you came here, I feel the pain
But I've got so much love for you
I keep wanting you, no matter what you do
All I want to do is take care of you
Everything I have in my life, I'll share with you
This soul of mine has been possessed by you
Darling my heart has been obsessed with you
Just look at me, I'm not the man, I used to be
I used to be proud, I used to be strong
But all of that's changed girl, since you come along
Your lovin' sweetness is my weakness
Though I need you, dear, I just can't keep you near
Running away, running away, running away
Running away, running away, running away
Each time you go, the hurt comes callin'
My days become nights, darlin'
My nights become so much longer
You're in my life, you're in my heart
But I can't get you, get you into my arms
Darlin' you, you keep runnin' away
Darlin' you, you just keep runnin' away
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
You Keep Running Away Lyrics as written by Brian Holland Jr.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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
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."
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.
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/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.