"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 go bustin' your fist against a stone wall,
you're not usin' your brain. That's what the white man wants you to do.
Look at you! What makes you ashamed of bein black?"
(Nothin' but love for you my sister)
Might even know how hard it is (no doubt)
Bein' a woman, a black woman at that? (no doubt)
Shit - in this white man's world
Sometimes we overlook the fact that we be ridin hard on our sisters
We don't be knowin the pain we be causin' (in this white man's world)
In this white man's world, I ain't sayin' I'm innocent in all this
I'm just sayin (in this white man's world)
This song is for y'all
For all those times that I messed up or we messed up
Dear sister, got me twisted up in prison I miss ya
Cryin' lookin' at my niece's and my newphew's picture
They say don't let this cruel world get ya, kinda suspicious
Swearin' one day you might leave me, for somebody that's richer
Twist the cap off the bottle, I take a sip and see tomorrow
Gotta make if I have to beg or borrow
Readin' love letters; late night, locked down and quiet
If brothers don't receive they mail best believe we riot
Eatin' Jack-Mack ? starin' at walls of silence
Inside this cage where they captured all my rage and violence
In time I learned a few lessons, never fall for riches
Apologizes to my true sisters; far from bitches
Help me raise my black nation reparations are due, it's true
Caught up in this world I took advantage of you
So tell the babies how I love them, precious boys and girls
Born black in this white man's world - and all I heard was
Who, knows what tomorrow brings
In this world, where everyone's blind
And where to go, no matter how far I'll find
To let you know, that you're not alone
Only thing they ever did wrong (yes, yes)
Was bein born black, in this white man's world (no doubt)
(All my ghetto motherfuckers be proud to be black and be proud)
All my little black seeds, born black in this white man's world
(to have this shit like this, cause ain't nobody got it like this)
(All these motherfuckers want to be like us, they all want to be like us)
(To be the have-nots, all hail)
(God bless the child that can hold his own, no motherfuckin' doubt)
Bein' born with less I must confess only adds on to the stress
Two gunshots to my homie's head, dyed in his vest
Shot him to death and left him bleedin' for his family to see
I pass his casket gently askin, is there heaven for G's?
My homeboy's doin life, his baby momma be stressin'
Sheddin' tears when her son, finally ask that questions
Where my daddy at? Mama why we live so poor?
Why you cryin? Heard you late night through my bedroom door
Now do you love me mama? Whitey keep on callin' me nigga?
Get my weight up with my hate and pay 'em back when I'm bigger
And still thuggin in this jail cell, missin' my block
Hearin brothers screamin' all night, wishin' they'd stop
Proud to be black but why we act like we don't love ourselves
Don't look around busta (you sucka) check yourselves
Know what it MEANS to be black, whether a man or girl
We still strugglin', in this white man's world
Who, knows what tomorrow brings
In this world, where everyone's blind
And where to go, no matter how far I'll find
To let you know, that you're not alone
Only thing they ever did wrong (yes, yes)
Was bein born black, in this white man's world (no doubt)
(All my ghetto motherfuckers be proud to be black and be proud)
All my little black seeds, born black in this white man's world
(to have this shit like this, cause ain't nobody got it like this)
(All these motherfuckers want to be like us, they all want to be like us)
(To be the have-nots, all hail)
(God bless the child that can hold his own, no motherfuckin' doubt)
We must fight, for brother Mumia
We must fight, for brother Mutulu
And we must fight, for brother ?
We must fight, for brother Geronimo Pratt
We must fight, for ?, Zulu, ?
We must fight, for the government's political prisoners
They are locked up falsely by this white man
So tell me why you
Changed to choose a new direction, in the blink of an eye
My time away just made perfection, did you think I'd die?
Not gon' cry, why should I care
Like we holdin' on to lost love that's no longer there
Can you please help me, God bless me please keep my seeds healthy
Makin' all my enemies bleed while my G's wealthy
Hopin' they bury me with ammunition's, weed, and shells
Just in case they trip in heaven, ain't no G's hell
Sister sorry for the pain that I caused your heart
I know I'll change if you help me, but don't fall apart
Rest in peace to Latasha, Lil' Yummy, and Kato
Too much for this cold world to take - ended up bein fatal
Every women in America, especially black
Bear with me, can't you see, that we under attack
I never meant to cause drama, to my sister and mama
Hope we make it, to better times, in this white man's world
Who, knows what tomorrow brings
In this world, where everyone's blind
And where to go, no matter how far I'll find
To let you know, that you're not alone
Only thing they ever did wrong (yes, yes)
Was bein born black, in this white man's world (no doubt)
(All my ghetto motherfuckers be proud to be black and be proud)
All my little black seeds, born black in this white man's world
(to have this shit like this, cause ain't nobody got it like this)
(All these motherfuckers want to be like us, they all want to be like us)
(To be the have-nots, all hail)
(God bless the child that can hold his own, no motherfuckin' doubt)
Who, knows what tomorrow brings
In this world, where everyone's blind
And where to go, no matter how far I'll find
To let you know, that you're not alone
Only thing they ever did wrong (yes, yes)
Was bein born black, in this white man's world (no doubt)
(All my ghetto motherfuckers be proud to be black and be proud)
All my little black seeds, born black in this white man's world
(to have this shit like this, cause ain't nobody got it like this)
(All these motherfuckers want to be like us, they all want to be like us)
(To be the have-nots, all hail)
(God bless the child that can hold his own, no motherfuckin' doubt)
Who, knows what tomorrow brings
In this world, where everyone's blind
And where to go, no matter how far I'll find
To let you know, that you're not alone
Only thing they ever did wrong (yes, yes)
Was bein born black, in this white man's world (no doubt)
(All my ghetto motherfuckers be proud to be black and be proud)
All my little black seeds, born black in this white man's world
(to have this shit like this, cause ain't nobody got it like this)
(All these motherfuckers want to be like us, they all want to be like us)
(To be the have-nots, all hail)
(God bless the child that can hold his own, no motherfuckin' doubt)
"You're out of touch with reality!
There are a few of you in a few smoke filled rooms ? that
The mainstream wound up masses of the people
White and black, red yellow, and, and brown
? invulnerable are suffering, in this nation."
Remember that, in this white man's world, they can't stop us
We've been here all this time they ain't took us out
They can never take us out
No matter what they say, about us bein extinct
About us being endangered species, we ain't never gon' leave this
We ain't never gon' walk off this planet, unless y'all choose to
Use your brain, use your brain
It ain't them that's killin' us it's US that's killin' us
It ain't them that's knockin' us off, it's US that's knockin' us off
I'm tellin' you better watch it, or be a victim
Be a victim, in this white man's world,
? born black, in this white man's world, no doubt
And it's dedicated to my motherfuckin teachers
Mutulu Shakur, Geronimo Pratt, Mumia Abu Jamal
Sekou Odinga, all the real O.G.'s, we out
The seal, and the constitution, reflect the thinking
Of the founding fathers, that this was, to be a nation
By white people, and for white people. Native americans,
Blacks, and all other non-white people, were to be the
Burden bearers, for the real citizens of this nation.
you're not usin' your brain. That's what the white man wants you to do.
Look at you! What makes you ashamed of bein black?"
(Nothin' but love for you my sister)
Might even know how hard it is (no doubt)
Bein' a woman, a black woman at that? (no doubt)
Shit - in this white man's world
Sometimes we overlook the fact that we be ridin hard on our sisters
We don't be knowin the pain we be causin' (in this white man's world)
In this white man's world, I ain't sayin' I'm innocent in all this
I'm just sayin (in this white man's world)
This song is for y'all
For all those times that I messed up or we messed up
Dear sister, got me twisted up in prison I miss ya
Cryin' lookin' at my niece's and my newphew's picture
They say don't let this cruel world get ya, kinda suspicious
Swearin' one day you might leave me, for somebody that's richer
Twist the cap off the bottle, I take a sip and see tomorrow
Gotta make if I have to beg or borrow
Readin' love letters; late night, locked down and quiet
If brothers don't receive they mail best believe we riot
Eatin' Jack-Mack ? starin' at walls of silence
Inside this cage where they captured all my rage and violence
In time I learned a few lessons, never fall for riches
Apologizes to my true sisters; far from bitches
Help me raise my black nation reparations are due, it's true
Caught up in this world I took advantage of you
So tell the babies how I love them, precious boys and girls
Born black in this white man's world - and all I heard was
Who, knows what tomorrow brings
In this world, where everyone's blind
And where to go, no matter how far I'll find
To let you know, that you're not alone
Only thing they ever did wrong (yes, yes)
Was bein born black, in this white man's world (no doubt)
(All my ghetto motherfuckers be proud to be black and be proud)
All my little black seeds, born black in this white man's world
(to have this shit like this, cause ain't nobody got it like this)
(All these motherfuckers want to be like us, they all want to be like us)
(To be the have-nots, all hail)
(God bless the child that can hold his own, no motherfuckin' doubt)
Bein' born with less I must confess only adds on to the stress
Two gunshots to my homie's head, dyed in his vest
Shot him to death and left him bleedin' for his family to see
I pass his casket gently askin, is there heaven for G's?
My homeboy's doin life, his baby momma be stressin'
Sheddin' tears when her son, finally ask that questions
Where my daddy at? Mama why we live so poor?
Why you cryin? Heard you late night through my bedroom door
Now do you love me mama? Whitey keep on callin' me nigga?
Get my weight up with my hate and pay 'em back when I'm bigger
And still thuggin in this jail cell, missin' my block
Hearin brothers screamin' all night, wishin' they'd stop
Proud to be black but why we act like we don't love ourselves
Don't look around busta (you sucka) check yourselves
Know what it MEANS to be black, whether a man or girl
We still strugglin', in this white man's world
Who, knows what tomorrow brings
In this world, where everyone's blind
And where to go, no matter how far I'll find
To let you know, that you're not alone
Only thing they ever did wrong (yes, yes)
Was bein born black, in this white man's world (no doubt)
(All my ghetto motherfuckers be proud to be black and be proud)
All my little black seeds, born black in this white man's world
(to have this shit like this, cause ain't nobody got it like this)
(All these motherfuckers want to be like us, they all want to be like us)
(To be the have-nots, all hail)
(God bless the child that can hold his own, no motherfuckin' doubt)
We must fight, for brother Mumia
We must fight, for brother Mutulu
And we must fight, for brother ?
We must fight, for brother Geronimo Pratt
We must fight, for ?, Zulu, ?
We must fight, for the government's political prisoners
They are locked up falsely by this white man
So tell me why you
Changed to choose a new direction, in the blink of an eye
My time away just made perfection, did you think I'd die?
Not gon' cry, why should I care
Like we holdin' on to lost love that's no longer there
Can you please help me, God bless me please keep my seeds healthy
Makin' all my enemies bleed while my G's wealthy
Hopin' they bury me with ammunition's, weed, and shells
Just in case they trip in heaven, ain't no G's hell
Sister sorry for the pain that I caused your heart
I know I'll change if you help me, but don't fall apart
Rest in peace to Latasha, Lil' Yummy, and Kato
Too much for this cold world to take - ended up bein fatal
Every women in America, especially black
Bear with me, can't you see, that we under attack
I never meant to cause drama, to my sister and mama
Hope we make it, to better times, in this white man's world
Who, knows what tomorrow brings
In this world, where everyone's blind
And where to go, no matter how far I'll find
To let you know, that you're not alone
Only thing they ever did wrong (yes, yes)
Was bein born black, in this white man's world (no doubt)
(All my ghetto motherfuckers be proud to be black and be proud)
All my little black seeds, born black in this white man's world
(to have this shit like this, cause ain't nobody got it like this)
(All these motherfuckers want to be like us, they all want to be like us)
(To be the have-nots, all hail)
(God bless the child that can hold his own, no motherfuckin' doubt)
Who, knows what tomorrow brings
In this world, where everyone's blind
And where to go, no matter how far I'll find
To let you know, that you're not alone
Only thing they ever did wrong (yes, yes)
Was bein born black, in this white man's world (no doubt)
(All my ghetto motherfuckers be proud to be black and be proud)
All my little black seeds, born black in this white man's world
(to have this shit like this, cause ain't nobody got it like this)
(All these motherfuckers want to be like us, they all want to be like us)
(To be the have-nots, all hail)
(God bless the child that can hold his own, no motherfuckin' doubt)
Who, knows what tomorrow brings
In this world, where everyone's blind
And where to go, no matter how far I'll find
To let you know, that you're not alone
Only thing they ever did wrong (yes, yes)
Was bein born black, in this white man's world (no doubt)
(All my ghetto motherfuckers be proud to be black and be proud)
All my little black seeds, born black in this white man's world
(to have this shit like this, cause ain't nobody got it like this)
(All these motherfuckers want to be like us, they all want to be like us)
(To be the have-nots, all hail)
(God bless the child that can hold his own, no motherfuckin' doubt)
"You're out of touch with reality!
There are a few of you in a few smoke filled rooms ? that
The mainstream wound up masses of the people
White and black, red yellow, and, and brown
? invulnerable are suffering, in this nation."
Remember that, in this white man's world, they can't stop us
We've been here all this time they ain't took us out
They can never take us out
No matter what they say, about us bein extinct
About us being endangered species, we ain't never gon' leave this
We ain't never gon' walk off this planet, unless y'all choose to
Use your brain, use your brain
It ain't them that's killin' us it's US that's killin' us
It ain't them that's knockin' us off, it's US that's knockin' us off
I'm tellin' you better watch it, or be a victim
Be a victim, in this white man's world,
? born black, in this white man's world, no doubt
And it's dedicated to my motherfuckin teachers
Mutulu Shakur, Geronimo Pratt, Mumia Abu Jamal
Sekou Odinga, all the real O.G.'s, we out
The seal, and the constitution, reflect the thinking
Of the founding fathers, that this was, to be a nation
By white people, and for white people. Native americans,
Blacks, and all other non-white people, were to be the
Burden bearers, for the real citizens of this nation.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
White Man'z World Lyrics as written by Tupac Shakur Darryl Harper
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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,