"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.
You called out my name at the opening party
We met the next weekend and you bought me coffee
Then Brooklyn, and Sweet Ups, and first sips of gin
You threw me your keys, and I let you in
To my first New York City apartment
You helped paint the walls but got dirt on the carpet
But I didn't mind 'cause you're all that I wanted
Ignored broken glass, forgave each small sin
Each time you knocked, I let you in
To my heart, and then in to my head
You bruised up my legs in my one person bed
Your actions fell backside, sweet nothings you said
With every fight, I let you in
No matter how late, I buzzed you in
In, inside, I find you waiting where I used to hide
In, in, inside, I can't chase you out though I've tried and I've tried
Inside
I step on the stage, my head finally cleared
Familiar laugh from house left rings in my ear
I'm scanning the audience thinking you might be here
Haven't talked in some time, don't know where you've been
Security's gone, you let yourself in
In, inside, I find you waiting where I used to hide
In, in, inside, I can't chase you out though I've tried and I've tried
Inside, I find you waiting where I used to hide
In, in, inside, I can't chase you out though I've tried and I've tried
Inside
What could this broken love be all about?
I've let you in, now I can't get you out
We met the next weekend and you bought me coffee
Then Brooklyn, and Sweet Ups, and first sips of gin
You threw me your keys, and I let you in
To my first New York City apartment
You helped paint the walls but got dirt on the carpet
But I didn't mind 'cause you're all that I wanted
Ignored broken glass, forgave each small sin
Each time you knocked, I let you in
To my heart, and then in to my head
You bruised up my legs in my one person bed
Your actions fell backside, sweet nothings you said
With every fight, I let you in
No matter how late, I buzzed you in
In, inside, I find you waiting where I used to hide
In, in, inside, I can't chase you out though I've tried and I've tried
Inside
I step on the stage, my head finally cleared
Familiar laugh from house left rings in my ear
I'm scanning the audience thinking you might be here
Haven't talked in some time, don't know where you've been
Security's gone, you let yourself in
In, inside, I find you waiting where I used to hide
In, in, inside, I can't chase you out though I've tried and I've tried
Inside, I find you waiting where I used to hide
In, in, inside, I can't chase you out though I've tried and I've tried
Inside
What could this broken love be all about?
I've let you in, now I can't get you out
Lyrics submitted by g0ld3n
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.