"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.
Blacked out
Everything faded on your love
I’m already wasted so close
That I can taste it now... now...
So let’s break right out of these guilty cages
We’re going to make it now...
Don’t ever turn around
Don’t ever turn around
Nobody else needs to know
Where we might go...
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights
There ain’t no reason to stay
We’ll be light years away...
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights...
We could just run them red lights...
White lights, flirt in the darkness
Whis road leads where your heart is
These signs, something we can’t ignore
We can’t back down
We’ll never let them change us
We’re going to make it now
What are we waiting for...
What are we waiting for...
Nobody else needs to know
Where we might go...
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights
There ain’t no reason to stay
We’ll be light years away...
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights...
We could just run them red lights...
Everything faded on your love
I’m already wasted so close
That I can taste it now... now...
So let’s break right out of these guilty cages
We’re going to make it now...
Don’t ever turn around
Don’t ever turn around
Nobody else needs to know
Where we might go...
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights
There ain’t no reason to stay
We’ll be light years away...
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights...
We could just run them red lights...
White lights, flirt in the darkness
Whis road leads where your heart is
These signs, something we can’t ignore
We can’t back down
We’ll never let them change us
We’re going to make it now
What are we waiting for...
What are we waiting for...
Nobody else needs to know
Where we might go...
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights
There ain’t no reason to stay
We’ll be light years away...
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights
We could just run them red lights...
We could just run them red lights...
Lyrics submitted by lizzie1110
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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.
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,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
I think this song's meaning is one of the lover has lost love for the other. Now that she wants to leave and don't turn around. Especially now she found someone new and they want to run away or make it work. They were cheating at the beginning, that's why they want to break out of those guilty cages. They want to let their heart lead them. All I can say is liars cheat and cheaters lie.
This song is about trying to convince your crush or lover that it's okay to be public with your relationship. It shouldn't matter what people or society (the Red Lights) think/say - if both of you are in love, take a shot and dive in the deep end, and just love each other unconditionally.
It could also relate to LGBTQ couples where one person is still in the closet.