"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.
Put money in my hand
And I will do the things you want me to
Vanity overriding wisdom
Usually common sense
Should I delete it? You said you'd read it
You promised you would never ruin it with sequels
I wait for you on and on
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a
The moon's a skull, I think it's grinnin'
The room is full of people now, I think it's spinnin'
Wanted you, didn't ask for nothing
Wait for you on and on
And I don't need your tie
I don't need to, tired of saying it
We don't need more talk
Don't empty out your canteen on the desert floor
Ah
It's all my fault
And I never wanna spell it out
I just wanna say that it is all my fault
I could never spit it out
I don't wanna fix your tie
Never wanna say we're sad
Thankful that we got some chance
I know you won't get back your time
I wish that you could take it back
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
He wanted it more than me, I suppose
I was in a rush to wait in a line
Now I hear echoes of my old self
This is not the way to be
All at once
I lost my way
Is it not true, the things that we did?
Come here at once and look what they did
Come here, shut down and tune in tonight
Learn the words that they teach you without you realizing it
Come here, sit down and watch some TV
Mine, all mine, wait your turn
Cross my cross, slice your hand
Not your son, not your friend
Not your enemy
I rely on, on the little things
To get me by
Conscience says, "I'm okay"
You don't hear what they say
"He's not my son, search his home"
Off to war
It's time to go hide inside
Soft skin, weak chin
Just walk me through it, tell me what to do, I'll do it
Hurry, hurry, that's my baby
Oh, do what you can
All the time, he waits for me
And now we talk from time to time
Hits you on the head when nobody's there
Then he says, "Come here, could you fix my tie?"
I know it's not to be
To be is not the way to be
Show me where to go, don't get angry so quickly
Fuck depression
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Understanding is more important than love is
If not money will always trump justice
All is lost
I'll find my way
I say to be is not to be
To be is not the way to be
And I will do the things you want me to
Vanity overriding wisdom
Usually common sense
Should I delete it? You said you'd read it
You promised you would never ruin it with sequels
I wait for you on and on
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a
The moon's a skull, I think it's grinnin'
The room is full of people now, I think it's spinnin'
Wanted you, didn't ask for nothing
Wait for you on and on
And I don't need your tie
I don't need to, tired of saying it
We don't need more talk
Don't empty out your canteen on the desert floor
Ah
It's all my fault
And I never wanna spell it out
I just wanna say that it is all my fault
I could never spit it out
I don't wanna fix your tie
Never wanna say we're sad
Thankful that we got some chance
I know you won't get back your time
I wish that you could take it back
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
He wanted it more than me, I suppose
I was in a rush to wait in a line
Now I hear echoes of my old self
This is not the way to be
All at once
I lost my way
Is it not true, the things that we did?
Come here at once and look what they did
Come here, shut down and tune in tonight
Learn the words that they teach you without you realizing it
Come here, sit down and watch some TV
Mine, all mine, wait your turn
Cross my cross, slice your hand
Not your son, not your friend
Not your enemy
I rely on, on the little things
To get me by
Conscience says, "I'm okay"
You don't hear what they say
"He's not my son, search his home"
Off to war
It's time to go hide inside
Soft skin, weak chin
Just walk me through it, tell me what to do, I'll do it
Hurry, hurry, that's my baby
Oh, do what you can
All the time, he waits for me
And now we talk from time to time
Hits you on the head when nobody's there
Then he says, "Come here, could you fix my tie?"
I know it's not to be
To be is not the way to be
Show me where to go, don't get angry so quickly
Fuck depression
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Beyond all ideas of right and wrong, there is a field
I will be meeting you there
Understanding is more important than love is
If not money will always trump justice
All is lost
I'll find my way
I say to be is not to be
To be is not the way to be
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
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."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
This song is fuckin' epic, and it doesn't matter what you think it means