"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.
Ooh, for a second there
I felt peace and calm
The underpass
Would keep us from harm
And the wipers moved
Like some waving arms
We were flashing headlights
At coming cars
But up in the distance
Even in the dead of night
If we can make it to the morning
We can get things right
It's been a tough go lately
I hate choosing sides
What we do in the darkness
Will come to light, alright
Ooh, and in times of fear
You shelter me
And you hold me close
So tenderly (ooh la la)
And with my headphones on (ooh la la)
As I fall asleep (ooh la la)
You're my barricade (ooh la la)
From intruding dreams
But up in the distance
Even in the dead of night
If we can make it to the mornin'
We can get things right
It's been a tough go lately
I hate choosing sides
What we do in the darkness
Will come to light, alright
It'll come to light, alright
It'll come to light, alright
Ooh, la la la, ooh
Ooh, la la la, ooh
Ooh, la la la, ooh
Ooh, and then silence fell
When I picked up
Those words hit me hard
Like a one two punch
So I went home
To face the storm
And the thought of you
Keeps me warm
But up in the distance
Even in the dead of night
If we can make it to the morning
We can get things right
It's been a tough go lately
I hate choosing sides
What we do in the darkness (yeah)
What we do in the darkness
Comes to light
When every thing went wrong
You're keeping my head on
And in time
The things that hurt today
Will begin to fade away
I felt peace and calm
The underpass
Would keep us from harm
And the wipers moved
Like some waving arms
We were flashing headlights
At coming cars
But up in the distance
Even in the dead of night
If we can make it to the morning
We can get things right
It's been a tough go lately
I hate choosing sides
What we do in the darkness
Will come to light, alright
Ooh, and in times of fear
You shelter me
And you hold me close
So tenderly (ooh la la)
And with my headphones on (ooh la la)
As I fall asleep (ooh la la)
You're my barricade (ooh la la)
From intruding dreams
But up in the distance
Even in the dead of night
If we can make it to the mornin'
We can get things right
It's been a tough go lately
I hate choosing sides
What we do in the darkness
Will come to light, alright
It'll come to light, alright
It'll come to light, alright
Ooh, la la la, ooh
Ooh, la la la, ooh
Ooh, la la la, ooh
Ooh, and then silence fell
When I picked up
Those words hit me hard
Like a one two punch
So I went home
To face the storm
And the thought of you
Keeps me warm
But up in the distance
Even in the dead of night
If we can make it to the morning
We can get things right
It's been a tough go lately
I hate choosing sides
What we do in the darkness (yeah)
What we do in the darkness
Comes to light
When every thing went wrong
You're keeping my head on
And in time
The things that hurt today
Will begin to fade away
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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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I think this song is about being free and happy with someone you love even though times are tough at home. I think the singer feels safe and as if he can escape from his problems when he is with this other person, friend or girlfriend or whatever. The reason I interpret it this way is because the bridge seems to be him getting a phone call with bad news - makes him go silent - and he has to go home now to face the storm, or face the troubles.
@AnnaSeale Have to agree with this interpretation. The conflict here is between the narrator's parents ("hate choosing sides), occurring at night (hence darkness). Escape comes from a car ride with the narrator's significant other. Eventually, his/her parents can't resolve their differences, but comfort comes from thoughts and the presence of the significant other, and hopefully buffers the pain of the current conflict and marital dissolution.