"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 gotta believe me John
needing anything from anyone is the last thing I want
but I don't know what I'm doing
I don't know where to start
I fell asleep on the train
coming in from work
found myself at your lace
the last place I would have looked
amongst the easter island souvenirs and self-help books
I was the state of the art of my ancestry
making fortunes out of nothing using modern alchemy
but now I'm feigning anaesthesia at the company scenes
how's a guy supposed to fall in love in this economy?
my money ain't what she used to be (x2)
now how's a guy supposed to fall in love in this economy?
my money ain't what she used to be...
well say it ain't so John, say it ain't true
if my money can't buy happiness a new pair of shoes
then will she ever look at me the way that she used to?
I was the new boy-genius, almost doomed to succeed
now I sit dumb as a computer through the hearings and briefs
while I try to understand just what's been taken from me
since she threw her torch at the city and swam out to sea
my money ain't who she used to be (x2)
she dropped her robes
threw her torch at the city and swam out to sea
my money ain't who she used to be
but don't you worry about me
don't you worry, worry, worry, worry, worry, worry, wo$$?, w$$$?, w0$$?, 00$??!!
needing anything from anyone is the last thing I want
but I don't know what I'm doing
I don't know where to start
I fell asleep on the train
coming in from work
found myself at your lace
the last place I would have looked
amongst the easter island souvenirs and self-help books
I was the state of the art of my ancestry
making fortunes out of nothing using modern alchemy
but now I'm feigning anaesthesia at the company scenes
how's a guy supposed to fall in love in this economy?
my money ain't what she used to be (x2)
now how's a guy supposed to fall in love in this economy?
my money ain't what she used to be...
well say it ain't so John, say it ain't true
if my money can't buy happiness a new pair of shoes
then will she ever look at me the way that she used to?
I was the new boy-genius, almost doomed to succeed
now I sit dumb as a computer through the hearings and briefs
while I try to understand just what's been taken from me
since she threw her torch at the city and swam out to sea
my money ain't who she used to be (x2)
she dropped her robes
threw her torch at the city and swam out to sea
my money ain't who she used to be
but don't you worry about me
don't you worry, worry, worry, worry, worry, worry, wo$$?, w$$$?, w0$$?, 00$??!!
Lyrics submitted by blood is thin
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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@[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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
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Punchline
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
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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.