"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.
We are standing
On the threshold
Of a decent conversation
When I can hear the door slam
I know the face you're making
And I really want to talk to you
I really really wanted to
But once you get your
Mind made up
There is no getting
Through to you
For a while it was touching
For a while it was challenging
Before it became typical
And now it really
Isn't interesting
To see a grown man cry
To see a grown man cry
I'm lying on the sofa
And the radio is blaring
And I'm scanning
Through the stations
As the boys declare
Their feelings
But it doesn't feel like feelings
It feels like they're pretending
It's like they just want
Blowjobs
And they know these songs
Will get them
And I really want to talk to you
I really really wanted to
But I have learned my lesson
Now
And you're not the one
I'm turning to
And for a while it was touching
For a while it was challenging
Before it got habitual
And now it really
Isn't interesting
To see a grown man cry
To see a grown man cry
I was the first to warn you
I lay myself before you
I was the first to warn you
I put myself before you
We are standing on the corner
And you're throwing
Down the gauntlet
It is not a life decision
We just need
To pick a restaurant
After all this I should know you
Well enough not to get into it
I should learn but I'm an idiot
You only want an argument
And for a while it was touching
It was almost even comforting
Before it became typical
And now it really
Is not interesting
To see a grown man cry
To see a grown man cry
To see a grown man
Throw a temper fit
To see a grown man
Cross his arms
And sit as if the
Whole wide world would end
If he was not a part of it
But at the same time
With no confidence
Never realizing
The consequence he's having
On the ones he loves
Because he thinks he makes
No difference
We are standing
On the threshold
Of a decent conversation
When I can hear the door slam
I know the face you're making
And I really want to talk to you
I really really wanted to
But this time I am giving up
I am simply giving up on you
On the threshold
Of a decent conversation
When I can hear the door slam
I know the face you're making
And I really want to talk to you
I really really wanted to
But once you get your
Mind made up
There is no getting
Through to you
For a while it was touching
For a while it was challenging
Before it became typical
And now it really
Isn't interesting
To see a grown man cry
To see a grown man cry
I'm lying on the sofa
And the radio is blaring
And I'm scanning
Through the stations
As the boys declare
Their feelings
But it doesn't feel like feelings
It feels like they're pretending
It's like they just want
Blowjobs
And they know these songs
Will get them
And I really want to talk to you
I really really wanted to
But I have learned my lesson
Now
And you're not the one
I'm turning to
And for a while it was touching
For a while it was challenging
Before it got habitual
And now it really
Isn't interesting
To see a grown man cry
To see a grown man cry
I was the first to warn you
I lay myself before you
I was the first to warn you
I put myself before you
We are standing on the corner
And you're throwing
Down the gauntlet
It is not a life decision
We just need
To pick a restaurant
After all this I should know you
Well enough not to get into it
I should learn but I'm an idiot
You only want an argument
And for a while it was touching
It was almost even comforting
Before it became typical
And now it really
Is not interesting
To see a grown man cry
To see a grown man cry
To see a grown man
Throw a temper fit
To see a grown man
Cross his arms
And sit as if the
Whole wide world would end
If he was not a part of it
But at the same time
With no confidence
Never realizing
The consequence he's having
On the ones he loves
Because he thinks he makes
No difference
We are standing
On the threshold
Of a decent conversation
When I can hear the door slam
I know the face you're making
And I really want to talk to you
I really really wanted to
But this time I am giving up
I am simply giving up on you
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Grown Man Cry Lyrics as written by Amanda Palmer
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Bee Gees
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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.
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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,
Head > Heels
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.