"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.
At forty-four minutes to four
An angel walked up to my door
Opened the windows to my soul
Told me he thinks that I should know
There's no slowin' down
As the globe spins 'round and 'round
You gotta keep goin', better keep goin'
Better keep goin', you gotta keep goin'
Gotta keep goin', you gotta keep goin'
You gotta keep goin', you better keep goin'
You gotta keep goin'
If there's one thing that I
Learned while in those county lines
Is that everything takes time
You have gotta lose your pride
You have gotta lose your mind
Just to find your peace of mind
You have gotta trust the signs
Everything will turn out fine
So why aren't you smilin'? Why aren't you smilin'?
Life can get wild when, you're caught in the whirlwind
Lost in the whirlwind, you're chasin' the wind
You gotta understand
There's really no end, there's really no beginnin'
There's really no real, there's really no pretendin'
There's really no fail, there's really no winnin'
'Cause nothin' really is, and everything really isn't
At forty-four minutes to four
An angel walked up to my door
Opened the windows to my soul
Told me he thinks that I should know
That life only gets harder but you gotta get stronger
This is for my brother, I do this for my daughter
That's why I keep goin', that's why I keep goin'
That's why I keep goin'
That's why I keep goin', I gotta keep goin'
I gotta keep goin', I gotta keep goin'
I gotta keep goin', gotta keep goin'
Gotta keep goin', oh
And I gotta show them that I can keep goin'
Ohh
I
I gotta keep goin', I gotta keep goin'
I gotta keep goin'
Why aren't you smilin'? Why aren't you smilin'?
Life can get wild when, you caught in the whirlwind
Lost in the whirlwind, you're chasin' the wind
You gotta understand
There's really no end, there's really no beginnin'
There's really no real, there's really no pretendin'
There's really no fail, there's really no winnin'
'Cause nothin' really is and everything really isn't
That's why I keep goin'
An angel walked up to my door
Opened the windows to my soul
Told me he thinks that I should know
There's no slowin' down
As the globe spins 'round and 'round
You gotta keep goin', better keep goin'
Better keep goin', you gotta keep goin'
Gotta keep goin', you gotta keep goin'
You gotta keep goin', you better keep goin'
You gotta keep goin'
If there's one thing that I
Learned while in those county lines
Is that everything takes time
You have gotta lose your pride
You have gotta lose your mind
Just to find your peace of mind
You have gotta trust the signs
Everything will turn out fine
So why aren't you smilin'? Why aren't you smilin'?
Life can get wild when, you're caught in the whirlwind
Lost in the whirlwind, you're chasin' the wind
You gotta understand
There's really no end, there's really no beginnin'
There's really no real, there's really no pretendin'
There's really no fail, there's really no winnin'
'Cause nothin' really is, and everything really isn't
At forty-four minutes to four
An angel walked up to my door
Opened the windows to my soul
Told me he thinks that I should know
That life only gets harder but you gotta get stronger
This is for my brother, I do this for my daughter
That's why I keep goin', that's why I keep goin'
That's why I keep goin'
That's why I keep goin', I gotta keep goin'
I gotta keep goin', I gotta keep goin'
I gotta keep goin', gotta keep goin'
Gotta keep goin', oh
And I gotta show them that I can keep goin'
Ohh
I
I gotta keep goin', I gotta keep goin'
I gotta keep goin'
Why aren't you smilin'? Why aren't you smilin'?
Life can get wild when, you caught in the whirlwind
Lost in the whirlwind, you're chasin' the wind
You gotta understand
There's really no end, there's really no beginnin'
There's really no real, there's really no pretendin'
There's really no fail, there's really no winnin'
'Cause nothin' really is and everything really isn't
That's why I keep goin'
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
I think this song is about being happy be happy even if things don't go ur way