"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.
I may be down
But things are looking up
All the grass is turning brown
But things are looking up
I don't have a white picket fence
But things are looking up
Happiness is a good league hence
But things are looking up
The sting reminding me
At least it seems to be
That I am fiery
And must be burning burning
Upon the wind
You take your medicine
Whether I lose or win
I hope I'm learning learning
Take all you want I don't care
And I'll look up if I am down a share
We never promised we'd play fair
It's a lonely town
But things are looking up
A hard old rain is falling down
But things are looking up
I'm in a pile of leaves and I've got no rake
But things are looking up
So giveth unto me a break
Cause things are looking up
The sting reminding me
At least it seems to be
That I am fiery
And must be burning burning
Upon the wind
You take your medicine
Whether I lose or win
I hope I'm learning learning
Take all you want I don't care
And I'll look up if I am down a share
We never promised we'd play fair
Hands in my pocket eyes on the ground
Just like a storm cloud walking all over town
Dreams in the gutter spirits on the floor
Hope's in the dumpster but there's always room for more
I may be down
But things are looking up
All the grass is turning brown
But things are looking up
The sting reminding me
At least it seems to be
That I am fiery
And must be burning burning
Upon the wind
You take your medicine
Whether I lose or win
I hope I'm learning learning
Take all you want I don't care
And I'll look up if I am down a share
We never promised we'd play fair
But things are looking up
All the grass is turning brown
But things are looking up
I don't have a white picket fence
But things are looking up
Happiness is a good league hence
But things are looking up
The sting reminding me
At least it seems to be
That I am fiery
And must be burning burning
Upon the wind
You take your medicine
Whether I lose or win
I hope I'm learning learning
Take all you want I don't care
And I'll look up if I am down a share
We never promised we'd play fair
It's a lonely town
But things are looking up
A hard old rain is falling down
But things are looking up
I'm in a pile of leaves and I've got no rake
But things are looking up
So giveth unto me a break
Cause things are looking up
The sting reminding me
At least it seems to be
That I am fiery
And must be burning burning
Upon the wind
You take your medicine
Whether I lose or win
I hope I'm learning learning
Take all you want I don't care
And I'll look up if I am down a share
We never promised we'd play fair
Hands in my pocket eyes on the ground
Just like a storm cloud walking all over town
Dreams in the gutter spirits on the floor
Hope's in the dumpster but there's always room for more
I may be down
But things are looking up
All the grass is turning brown
But things are looking up
The sting reminding me
At least it seems to be
That I am fiery
And must be burning burning
Upon the wind
You take your medicine
Whether I lose or win
I hope I'm learning learning
Take all you want I don't care
And I'll look up if I am down a share
We never promised we'd play fair
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Things Are Looking Up Lyrics as written by Ron Sexsmith John Popper
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, 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
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.