"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.
Say your peace, for I'll be on my way
One last look, nothing left to say
As I turn my back, to walk away
I shall forgive, but I won't forget that day
For every sky that shines
Shall meet the pouring rain
For my will shall never break though it may bend
Like the scars that heal yet never mend
When lies become the truth
Well, you've got your beliefs
No burdens on your mind
They're buried beneath your feet
As I turn my back, to walk away
I shall forgive, but I won't forget that day
For every sky that shines
Shall meet the pouring rain
For my will shall never break though it may bend
Like the scars that heal yet never mend
For every sky that shines
Shall meet the pouring rain
For my will shall never break though it may bend
Like the scars that heal yet never mend
For every sky that shines
Shall meet the pouring rain
For my will shall never break though it may bend
Like the scars that heal yet never mend
One last look, nothing left to say
As I turn my back, to walk away
I shall forgive, but I won't forget that day
For every sky that shines
Shall meet the pouring rain
For my will shall never break though it may bend
Like the scars that heal yet never mend
When lies become the truth
Well, you've got your beliefs
No burdens on your mind
They're buried beneath your feet
As I turn my back, to walk away
I shall forgive, but I won't forget that day
For every sky that shines
Shall meet the pouring rain
For my will shall never break though it may bend
Like the scars that heal yet never mend
For every sky that shines
Shall meet the pouring rain
For my will shall never break though it may bend
Like the scars that heal yet never mend
For every sky that shines
Shall meet the pouring rain
For my will shall never break though it may bend
Like the scars that heal yet never mend
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Ed Sheeran
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I believe he is talking about a relationship ending...either a close friend that has passed away or a failed relationship w/ a female where the went their separate ways, or she may have passed away. I think we can take it and apply it to our own life situation, whatever fits!
'Like the SCARS that heal yet never mend'...it's something that will leave a void for a very long time, possibly a lifetime!
This song seems like it's about a relationship ending and Zakk basically saying that even though it hurts for the both of them life has it's up and downs and he'll eventually move on, although it will have a lasting impact on his life. The first verse is basically saying he's said all he could and wants her to do the same since after this he's leaving it behind and not looking back. The second verse where he talks about lies becoming truth he could be saying that they had fundamental differences that he disagrees with the reasons why the relationship wasn't working out but recognizes she feels the same way and he can't make her see it the way he does. The line, "I shall forgive but I won't forget that day" implies that he will forgive both her and himself for the things that went wrong and splitting up on that day but he will never forget it.
It's possible too that this whole song is implying a split that wasn't exactly mutual. Maybe she wanted to break things off and he didn't necessarily want to split yet and try to work things out but he realizes he can't make her do what he wants to so the best thing for him to do is just accept it for what it is and move on. Then in the choruses he's basically saying to her everything will be ok in the end and he will forgive her, but he's never going to forget the pain of the split.