"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.
Akephalos
Shine through me
Come forth in war
Come forth in peace
Bring down the sun
Extinguish all the stars
Let me remain in splendor of thy light
Bornless one
As darkness bright
Found not in tongues
Found not in light
Bring down the rain
Drain waters of Styx
Faustian luminary
Redeem blaspheme
Like a day without the dawn
Like a ray void of the sun
Like a storm that brings no calm
I'm most complete yet so undone
Agathos Daimon of plague and fever
Thy name is nowhere, thy name is never
Liberate me
Ignite the seeds
Bind not to guilt
Ignis Gehennalis
Oh father, oh satan, oh sun
Let the children come to thee
Behold the morning star
Akephalos
Shine through me
Come forth in war
Come forth in peace
Like a day without the dawn
Like a ray void of the sun
Like a storm that brings no calm
I'm most complete yet so undone
O Lion-Serpent Sun, the beast that whirlest forth
A thunder-bolt, begetter of life
Thou that flowest, thou that goest
Thou Satan-Sun, Hadith, that goest without will
Thou air, breath, spirit, thou without bound or bond
Thou essence, air swift-streaming, elasticity
Thou wanderer, father of all
Thou wanderer, spirit of all
Hear me, and make all spirits subjects unto me
So that every spirit of the firmament and of the ether
Upon the earth and under the earth
On dry land and in the water of whirling air, and of rushing fire
And every spell and scourge of God
May be obedient unto me
Thou spiritual sun, satan, thou eye, thou lust
Cry aloud, cry aloud
Whirl the wheel, oh my father, oh satan, oh sun
Shine through me
Come forth in war
Come forth in peace
Bring down the sun
Extinguish all the stars
Let me remain in splendor of thy light
Bornless one
As darkness bright
Found not in tongues
Found not in light
Bring down the rain
Drain waters of Styx
Faustian luminary
Redeem blaspheme
Like a day without the dawn
Like a ray void of the sun
Like a storm that brings no calm
I'm most complete yet so undone
Agathos Daimon of plague and fever
Thy name is nowhere, thy name is never
Liberate me
Ignite the seeds
Bind not to guilt
Ignis Gehennalis
Oh father, oh satan, oh sun
Let the children come to thee
Behold the morning star
Akephalos
Shine through me
Come forth in war
Come forth in peace
Like a day without the dawn
Like a ray void of the sun
Like a storm that brings no calm
I'm most complete yet so undone
O Lion-Serpent Sun, the beast that whirlest forth
A thunder-bolt, begetter of life
Thou that flowest, thou that goest
Thou Satan-Sun, Hadith, that goest without will
Thou air, breath, spirit, thou without bound or bond
Thou essence, air swift-streaming, elasticity
Thou wanderer, father of all
Thou wanderer, spirit of all
Hear me, and make all spirits subjects unto me
So that every spirit of the firmament and of the ether
Upon the earth and under the earth
On dry land and in the water of whirling air, and of rushing fire
And every spell and scourge of God
May be obedient unto me
Thou spiritual sun, satan, thou eye, thou lust
Cry aloud, cry aloud
Whirl the wheel, oh my father, oh satan, oh sun
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
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.