"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.
Fatal beauty, the chokin' kind
Dangerous feeling in this heart of mine
How can you love me
And treat me so unkind
You got me floppin' like a fish in a pan
Ain't no way to treat your man
Maydelle
Baby won't you please love me
Maydell, you sure put the squeeze on me
I don't know why I love you,
You put me through hell
I can't break your spell, Maydelle
Fire spreads quick through the neighborhood
Talk is cheap if the story's good
Nobody said you did, but everybody said that you would
You got me feelin' like a dog, chasin' his tail
I'll never catch you - you play the game too well
Maydelle
Baby won't you please love me
Maydell, you sure put the squeeze on me
I don't know why I love you,
You put me through hell
I can't break your spell, Maydelle
Every time I try to walk away,
Just walk away
You bat them eyes, beg me to stay,
Honey won't you stay
Ruby red lips, callin' my name
Forget about the sorrow and the shame
Maydelle
Every time I try to walk away,
Just walk away
You bat them eyes, beg me to stay,
Honey won't you stay
Ruby red lips, callin' my name
Forget about the sorrow and the shame
Maydelle
Maydelle
Baby won't you please love me
Maydell, you sure put the squeeze on me
I don't know why I love you,
You put me through hell
I can't break your spell, Maydelle
Dangerous feeling in this heart of mine
How can you love me
And treat me so unkind
You got me floppin' like a fish in a pan
Ain't no way to treat your man
Maydelle
Baby won't you please love me
Maydell, you sure put the squeeze on me
I don't know why I love you,
You put me through hell
I can't break your spell, Maydelle
Fire spreads quick through the neighborhood
Talk is cheap if the story's good
Nobody said you did, but everybody said that you would
You got me feelin' like a dog, chasin' his tail
I'll never catch you - you play the game too well
Maydelle
Baby won't you please love me
Maydell, you sure put the squeeze on me
I don't know why I love you,
You put me through hell
I can't break your spell, Maydelle
Every time I try to walk away,
Just walk away
You bat them eyes, beg me to stay,
Honey won't you stay
Ruby red lips, callin' my name
Forget about the sorrow and the shame
Maydelle
Every time I try to walk away,
Just walk away
You bat them eyes, beg me to stay,
Honey won't you stay
Ruby red lips, callin' my name
Forget about the sorrow and the shame
Maydelle
Maydelle
Baby won't you please love me
Maydell, you sure put the squeeze on me
I don't know why I love you,
You put me through hell
I can't break your spell, Maydelle
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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
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.
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.