"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.
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
Our mural of strength has been painted black
Our idol has fallen
We must bring him back
Those soft eyes have been sad too long
They watched us grow through our rights and wrongs
The hurt in your head can’t be worse than the hurt in our hearts
The weight on your chest can be lighter if you want
The world spins whether you like it or not
It won’t wait for you
I want to know where these habits came from
This is not the man I knew
When I close my eyes
When I sleep at night
I think the hurt in your head can’t be worse than the hurt in our hearts
The weight on your chest can be lighter if you want
The counter is covered in doubt
You’ve spilled it from inside
It leaves you with nowhere left to hide
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
Our mural of strength has been painted black
Our idol has fallen
We must bring him back
Those soft eyes have been sad too long
They watched us grow through our rights and wrongs
The hurt in your head can’t be worse than the hurt in our hearts
The weight on your chest can be lighter if you want
The world spins whether you like it or not
It won’t wait for you
I want to know where these habits came from
This is not the man I knew
When I close my eyes
When I sleep at night
I think the hurt in your head can’t be worse than the hurt in our hearts
The weight on your chest can be lighter if you want
The counter is covered in doubt
You’ve spilled it from inside
It leaves you with nowhere left to hide
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
The past is in the past
It will forever stay dead
I won’t let these memories clear from my head
Lyrics submitted by eltroyo11
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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,
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.