"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.
It all started in this little town way down in Texas
When he old Johnny Cash
Singing hectic country blues
He picked his guitar every night
And read them country magazines
Keeping up to snuff on the Music City news
One predetermined Sunday found him on the streets of Nashville
Humming out the chorus to his latest melody
He whooped through old Tootsie's bar and informed the local pickers
How he'd come to capture Music City, U.S.A.
Can't you hear the music ringing?
Can't you hear the singers singing?
Can't you hear somebody humming out my homemade melody?
The lost and found are searching there
And some new face from everywhere
Is come to capture Music City, U.S.A.
That Sunday evening found him in a corner booth at Limebaugh's
Drinking coffee and eating chili just like Earnest Tubb
Tuning up his guitar, Lord he couldn't wait till Monday
He figured if he couldn't make it, nobody could
Can't you hear the music ringing?
Can't you hear the singers singing?
Can't you hear somebody humming out my homemade melody?
The lost and found are searching there
And some new face from everywhere
Is come to capture Music City, U.S.A.
The years have come and gone since I seen him in ol' Nashville
Walking up 17th and 16th Avenue
Bugging everybody there that he could get to listen
Trying hard to do exactly what he'd said he'd come to do
Now the radios are ringin' with the songs that he was singin'
Everybody here's a-hummin' out his homemade melodies
That crazy fool with shaggy hair spread his songs out everywhere
I reckon he done captured Music City, U.S.A
When he old Johnny Cash
Singing hectic country blues
He picked his guitar every night
And read them country magazines
Keeping up to snuff on the Music City news
One predetermined Sunday found him on the streets of Nashville
Humming out the chorus to his latest melody
He whooped through old Tootsie's bar and informed the local pickers
How he'd come to capture Music City, U.S.A.
Can't you hear the music ringing?
Can't you hear the singers singing?
Can't you hear somebody humming out my homemade melody?
The lost and found are searching there
And some new face from everywhere
Is come to capture Music City, U.S.A.
That Sunday evening found him in a corner booth at Limebaugh's
Drinking coffee and eating chili just like Earnest Tubb
Tuning up his guitar, Lord he couldn't wait till Monday
He figured if he couldn't make it, nobody could
Can't you hear the music ringing?
Can't you hear the singers singing?
Can't you hear somebody humming out my homemade melody?
The lost and found are searching there
And some new face from everywhere
Is come to capture Music City, U.S.A.
The years have come and gone since I seen him in ol' Nashville
Walking up 17th and 16th Avenue
Bugging everybody there that he could get to listen
Trying hard to do exactly what he'd said he'd come to do
Now the radios are ringin' with the songs that he was singin'
Everybody here's a-hummin' out his homemade melodies
That crazy fool with shaggy hair spread his songs out everywhere
I reckon he done captured Music City, U.S.A
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Music City USA Lyrics as written by Billy Joe Shaver Bobby Bare
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.