"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 take your coat, I’m gonna carry your name
But papa I will meet you on that train
They put your name up in that hall of fame
Cause the kids come a runnin' out across a great, Great Plain
You called me twice, you said baby you like nice
And then you asked to speak to Momma
You said I’ll bring my coat
You carry my name
Then baby, I will meet you on that train
It go mm-mm
Mm-mm
Mm-mm
Mm-mm
With a laugh like a wheat field in June
And a smile like a Sunday groom
You took that car over to that bar
But Dorothy know just where you been
She said you get your coat
I’ll sign your name
But Papa you better get back on that train
It’s a dusty bowl and it’s full of thieves
It’s a dusty bowl, and it’s all I need
When the wind come down on those prairie eaves
That’s where you’ll find me, I get down on my knees
One long note cross one long night
It’s a midnight solo, I’m 'a sing it all my life
In the pourin’ rain, and the midnight fame
Well Papa I can see you on that train
It go mm-mm
Mm-mm
Mm-mm
Mm-mm
But papa I will meet you on that train
They put your name up in that hall of fame
Cause the kids come a runnin' out across a great, Great Plain
You called me twice, you said baby you like nice
And then you asked to speak to Momma
You said I’ll bring my coat
You carry my name
Then baby, I will meet you on that train
It go mm-mm
Mm-mm
Mm-mm
Mm-mm
With a laugh like a wheat field in June
And a smile like a Sunday groom
You took that car over to that bar
But Dorothy know just where you been
She said you get your coat
I’ll sign your name
But Papa you better get back on that train
It’s a dusty bowl and it’s full of thieves
It’s a dusty bowl, and it’s all I need
When the wind come down on those prairie eaves
That’s where you’ll find me, I get down on my knees
One long note cross one long night
It’s a midnight solo, I’m 'a sing it all my life
In the pourin’ rain, and the midnight fame
Well Papa I can see you on that train
It go mm-mm
Mm-mm
Mm-mm
Mm-mm
Lyrics submitted by OMFG_Phil
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.