"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.
About noonish, I woke up to the music
Blaring outta the clock I inherited from pops
After snooze is hit twice or trice
I climb off of this madras to go find my life
Where's my wifey at? Wait, that's right
She slept at her sister's, 'cause we had a fight last night
Looks like one of her cat's got sick
That's either vomit or shit, right next to the fridge
There's no coffee left, just tea, green
Did my best to try to make believe that it was caffeine
After a minute, I had a cold shower
And oh, I was pissed off at no hot water
Hello landlord as I get dressed
Expressed my stress in the message that I left
So when you get a chance, please call me
Gotta go, just found cat shit in the clean laundry
And yesterday's pants is the option
There's already money in the front pocket
No snow yet, but it's still freezing
So I throw on a coat with a hoodie underneath it
Ignore all the bills on the table
'Cause I don't love 'em - fuck 'em, who told them I was faithful
Shoes, keys, wallet and my temper
Out the front door into a cold November
Now wait a minute, look who got a parking ticket
I live here, why I need a fucking permit?
I guess underground rap has its perks
'Cause all of the sudden the speakers don't wanna work
Stereo is dead, no lights, no features
And hold up, the heater ain't on either
It must be a fuse, at least it starts
I dip to the shop that sells the car parts
And the cashier is like, man I don't know shit
But you ain't gonna treat me like I don't know shit
Bob, that's your job Bob, do your job Bob
Sell me a fuse and point me to the door knob
Installed the fuse and let the heater blow
Music comes on, thermometer is three below
Son's mom calls, I answer it on speaker phone
At same damn time, someone backs into my vehicle
Turn the auto-pilot on man
I just wanted to go to the studio to write a song man
Meltdown now, might as well ?blank out?
?Shine'll come back? once we pull up to Ant's house
That's the place I bury, all of the weight I carry
Southside basement, that's like my sanctuary
I love life - that's what this one's about
So go ahead and hit record and ?let? the sun come out, now
Blaring outta the clock I inherited from pops
After snooze is hit twice or trice
I climb off of this madras to go find my life
Where's my wifey at? Wait, that's right
She slept at her sister's, 'cause we had a fight last night
Looks like one of her cat's got sick
That's either vomit or shit, right next to the fridge
There's no coffee left, just tea, green
Did my best to try to make believe that it was caffeine
After a minute, I had a cold shower
And oh, I was pissed off at no hot water
Hello landlord as I get dressed
Expressed my stress in the message that I left
So when you get a chance, please call me
Gotta go, just found cat shit in the clean laundry
And yesterday's pants is the option
There's already money in the front pocket
No snow yet, but it's still freezing
So I throw on a coat with a hoodie underneath it
Ignore all the bills on the table
'Cause I don't love 'em - fuck 'em, who told them I was faithful
Shoes, keys, wallet and my temper
Out the front door into a cold November
Now wait a minute, look who got a parking ticket
I live here, why I need a fucking permit?
I guess underground rap has its perks
'Cause all of the sudden the speakers don't wanna work
Stereo is dead, no lights, no features
And hold up, the heater ain't on either
It must be a fuse, at least it starts
I dip to the shop that sells the car parts
And the cashier is like, man I don't know shit
But you ain't gonna treat me like I don't know shit
Bob, that's your job Bob, do your job Bob
Sell me a fuse and point me to the door knob
Installed the fuse and let the heater blow
Music comes on, thermometer is three below
Son's mom calls, I answer it on speaker phone
At same damn time, someone backs into my vehicle
Turn the auto-pilot on man
I just wanted to go to the studio to write a song man
Meltdown now, might as well ?blank out?
?Shine'll come back? once we pull up to Ant's house
That's the place I bury, all of the weight I carry
Southside basement, that's like my sanctuary
I love life - that's what this one's about
So go ahead and hit record and ?let? the sun come out, now
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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."
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/