"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.
When the curtain falls it rolls, unwraps, reminds me
The person that I am
I'm still afraid, ashamed, of what's behind me
But you gave me the strength to stand
Shake it off, go get the things you want
I'll bottle the shame (bottle the shame)
Shake it off, and no one will ever know (won't know)
I'm a slave to all these voices in my head
And I'm afraid, I'm afraid of what they've said
I'm a slave
Sometimes when no one's left to listen
I'll sit and argue with myself
Say all the things I wish to tell you
Without hurting someone else
Shake it off, go get the things you want
I'll bottle the shame (bottle the shame)
Shake it off, and no one will ever know (won't know)
I'm a slave to all these voices in my head
And I'm afraid, I'm afraid of what they've said
I'm a slave to all these voices in my head
And I'm afraid, they'll walk with me until my end
Stop!
Hey you, when'd ya get so cold? (When'd ya get so cold?)
Hey you, just do what you're told, do what you're told
Hey you, you're gonna be a star
As long as you'll let us, we'll make you the person that you aren't
Yeah!
I'm a slave to all these voices in my head
And I'm afraid, I'm afraid of what they've said
I'm a slave (I'm a slave) to all these voices in my head
And I'm afraid (I'm afraid) they'll walk with me until my end
Shake it off, go get the things you want
I'll bottle the shame (bottle the shame)
The person that I am
I'm still afraid, ashamed, of what's behind me
But you gave me the strength to stand
Shake it off, go get the things you want
I'll bottle the shame (bottle the shame)
Shake it off, and no one will ever know (won't know)
I'm a slave to all these voices in my head
And I'm afraid, I'm afraid of what they've said
I'm a slave
Sometimes when no one's left to listen
I'll sit and argue with myself
Say all the things I wish to tell you
Without hurting someone else
Shake it off, go get the things you want
I'll bottle the shame (bottle the shame)
Shake it off, and no one will ever know (won't know)
I'm a slave to all these voices in my head
And I'm afraid, I'm afraid of what they've said
I'm a slave to all these voices in my head
And I'm afraid, they'll walk with me until my end
Stop!
Hey you, when'd ya get so cold? (When'd ya get so cold?)
Hey you, just do what you're told, do what you're told
Hey you, you're gonna be a star
As long as you'll let us, we'll make you the person that you aren't
Yeah!
I'm a slave to all these voices in my head
And I'm afraid, I'm afraid of what they've said
I'm a slave (I'm a slave) to all these voices in my head
And I'm afraid (I'm afraid) they'll walk with me until my end
Shake it off, go get the things you want
I'll bottle the shame (bottle the shame)
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
One of the best off this album!
"When the curtain falls it rolls, unwraps, reminds me the person that I am. I'm still afraid, ashamed, of what's behind me, but you gave me the strength to stand." -----While Jeremy is out there being a rock star, he realizes he's still afraid of his past. Unknown individual is there for him and helps him out.
"sha sha shake it off go get the things you want. I'll bottle the shame ( bottle the shame ). Just sha sha shake it off, and no one will ever know ( won't know )." -----Go do what you want to do, regret it and drink to it later. (way to deal with problems and keep it secret)
"I'm a slave to all these voices in my head, and I'm afraid I'm afraid of what they've said. Im a slave." -----Pretty straightforward. Possibly thinks he's going crazy kind of thing.
"Sometimes when no ones left to listen ill sit and argue w myself. Say all the things I wish to tell you, without hurting someone else." -----When I'm alone I talk to myself, making imaginary conversations and constructing what I think your response would be. But this way, my words won't hurt you.
"I'm a slave to all these voices in my head, and I'm afraid I'm afraid of what they've said. Im a slave to all these voices in my head, and I'm afraid they'll walk with me until my end." -----Going crazy, and that will never go away.
"Hey you, whend ya get so cold? Hey you, just do what you're told, do what you're told. Hey you, you're gonna be a star. As long as you'll let us we'll make you the person that you aren't." -----This part of the song is interesting, because reflects on pressures people put on each other, especially famous people like Jeremy. I think it's reflecting on before he was famous and after he became famous (goes from 'do what you're told' to 'you're going to be a star'). And then they try to change him into someone he's not (could be relating to Victory Records)
Tell me what you think of my interpretation :)