"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.
Back with the magic, "overly dramatic" heart-sale that you'd expect.
Figured guilt must be finite and soon I'll have none left.
Loosing the signal, loose like connections and lost in the studio
The hardest part is letting go
so goodluck to us (yeh goodluck with that)
so goodluck to us (yeh goodluck with that)
Memories projected, streets stay haunted, we overcrowd the capital.
We are all ex-lovers together and this is The Swell.
And we can share spit and a sense of shame like they're the only 2 truths we know.
The hardest part is letting go
(And I guess I've got some skills, got our poster on her wall so every boy that she brings back will see my best side.
but you can't use pins in rented rooms, that poster's gonna fall)
The hardest part is letting go.
No, no, the hardest part is saying no.
And we can share spit and a sense of shame like they're the only 2 truths we know.
The hardest part is letting go.
No, no, the hardest part is saying no.
so goodluck to us (yeh goodluck with that)
so goodluck to us (yeh goodluck with that)
Figured guilt must be finite and soon I'll have none left.
Loosing the signal, loose like connections and lost in the studio
The hardest part is letting go
so goodluck to us (yeh goodluck with that)
so goodluck to us (yeh goodluck with that)
Memories projected, streets stay haunted, we overcrowd the capital.
We are all ex-lovers together and this is The Swell.
And we can share spit and a sense of shame like they're the only 2 truths we know.
The hardest part is letting go
(And I guess I've got some skills, got our poster on her wall so every boy that she brings back will see my best side.
but you can't use pins in rented rooms, that poster's gonna fall)
The hardest part is letting go.
No, no, the hardest part is saying no.
And we can share spit and a sense of shame like they're the only 2 truths we know.
The hardest part is letting go.
No, no, the hardest part is saying no.
so goodluck to us (yeh goodluck with that)
so goodluck to us (yeh goodluck with that)
Lyrics submitted by TDZane
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.
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,