"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.
I saw His eyes after they bound Him
I saw the blood drops on the courtyard
The highest priests and men of the law
Began to call forth the false witnesses
They questioned Him, He gave no answer
Could He not see these men could free Him?
They struck his face, no, that's too poetic
They punched Him till their fringes were covered in blood
(Prophecy, Prophecy)
My stomach turned to rot
Why didn't He stay down?
Why didn't He defend Himself?
I was helpless like my sweet Jesus
The more they struck His face
The more it seemed that He had won
The morning sun, the sound of roosters
As Jesus stared right through the government
I saw His eyes amidst this pageant
Not filled with fear, but more like pity
He spoke few words, choosing them wisely
It seemed like calculated suicide
The water splashed out of the basin
As all the crowd converged and screamed aloud
(Crucify! Crucify!)
Carries His cross, falls on His face, back on His feet
(Dust in His wounds, Dirt in His eyes)
The nails, the nails, the nails
NO! NO! NO!
I saw the blood drops on the courtyard
The highest priests and men of the law
Began to call forth the false witnesses
They questioned Him, He gave no answer
Could He not see these men could free Him?
They struck his face, no, that's too poetic
They punched Him till their fringes were covered in blood
(Prophecy, Prophecy)
My stomach turned to rot
Why didn't He stay down?
Why didn't He defend Himself?
I was helpless like my sweet Jesus
The more they struck His face
The more it seemed that He had won
The morning sun, the sound of roosters
As Jesus stared right through the government
I saw His eyes amidst this pageant
Not filled with fear, but more like pity
He spoke few words, choosing them wisely
It seemed like calculated suicide
The water splashed out of the basin
As all the crowd converged and screamed aloud
(Crucify! Crucify!)
Carries His cross, falls on His face, back on His feet
(Dust in His wounds, Dirt in His eyes)
The nails, the nails, the nails
NO! NO! NO!
Lyrics submitted by PhantasmP
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.