"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.
There's some brilliance
In the way he wears his sins
Like a crown of thorns
A king of nothing
A war that no one wins
But every time I realize that I
Have seen this all before
Retrace the steps to faces that might
Lead to an open door
I've had enough
Of waiting for the perfect reason
Just to give you up
And all of your darkest secrets
There's gotta be a way, just show me
Can't we both forget this all
Watch me give you up
And I'm spilling all your darkest
Spilling all your darkest secrets
There's something brilliant
In the way she wears my sins
For the world to see she's stronger now
With or without me
I can't try to hide it
I wish that I could
Hate you with all of my bones
I really hope you saved the best for last
I've had enough
Of waiting for the perfect reason
Just to give you up
And all of your darkest secrets
There's gotta be a way, just show me
Can't we both forget this all
Watch me give you up
And I'm spilling all your darkest
Spilling all your darkest secrets
Now I'm waking up
Life goes on without you
I'm gonna take it back
Gonna make it last this time
Now I'm standing up
Life goes on without you
I'm gonna make it back
Gonna leave the past behind
I've had enough
Of waiting for the perfect reason
Just to give you up
And all of your darkest secrets
There's gotta be a way just show me
Can't we both forget this all
Watch me give you up
And I'm spilling all your darkest
Spilling all your darkest secrets
Spilling all your darkest secrets
In the way he wears his sins
Like a crown of thorns
A king of nothing
A war that no one wins
But every time I realize that I
Have seen this all before
Retrace the steps to faces that might
Lead to an open door
I've had enough
Of waiting for the perfect reason
Just to give you up
And all of your darkest secrets
There's gotta be a way, just show me
Can't we both forget this all
Watch me give you up
And I'm spilling all your darkest
Spilling all your darkest secrets
There's something brilliant
In the way she wears my sins
For the world to see she's stronger now
With or without me
I can't try to hide it
I wish that I could
Hate you with all of my bones
I really hope you saved the best for last
I've had enough
Of waiting for the perfect reason
Just to give you up
And all of your darkest secrets
There's gotta be a way, just show me
Can't we both forget this all
Watch me give you up
And I'm spilling all your darkest
Spilling all your darkest secrets
Now I'm waking up
Life goes on without you
I'm gonna take it back
Gonna make it last this time
Now I'm standing up
Life goes on without you
I'm gonna make it back
Gonna leave the past behind
I've had enough
Of waiting for the perfect reason
Just to give you up
And all of your darkest secrets
There's gotta be a way just show me
Can't we both forget this all
Watch me give you up
And I'm spilling all your darkest
Spilling all your darkest secrets
Spilling all your darkest secrets
Lyrics submitted by Skoobasteve24
Perfect Reason [Bonus Track; Bonus Track] Lyrics as written by John Feldmann Cameron Hurley
Lyrics © RED BULL MEDIA HOUSE NA, INC.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.