"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 know I feel so violent,
Just want to break some glass,
Every day I pray it'll be my last
Turning to a blank wall wondering what to do?
Turning to a caliber .22
Every day he starts the same old fight.
And every day it just gets worse by night.
If I hit the streets I think I'll be alright.
But until I do, I won't be safe tonight.
Safe tonight (x3)
Every day I remember all that lead to this.
And every day don't ya know I get a little more pissed.
Banging on myself because I just don't care.
There's nothing left for me back there
He's twisted and violent,
I don't know what to do.
I left there for the streets last night
Thinking only of you, be safe tonight
Safe tonight (x3)
It all falls down on to me, like a baseball bat.
It hurts me, haunts me, hurts me, haunts me
I never want to go back.
I'm twisted tonight, and I don't know what to do?
I'm twisted tonight, I want to be with you, I want to be with you,
I want to be with you, be with, be with, be with you..
Safe tonight (x10)
Just want to break some glass,
Every day I pray it'll be my last
Turning to a blank wall wondering what to do?
Turning to a caliber .22
Every day he starts the same old fight.
And every day it just gets worse by night.
If I hit the streets I think I'll be alright.
But until I do, I won't be safe tonight.
Safe tonight (x3)
Every day I remember all that lead to this.
And every day don't ya know I get a little more pissed.
Banging on myself because I just don't care.
There's nothing left for me back there
He's twisted and violent,
I don't know what to do.
I left there for the streets last night
Thinking only of you, be safe tonight
Safe tonight (x3)
It all falls down on to me, like a baseball bat.
It hurts me, haunts me, hurts me, haunts me
I never want to go back.
I'm twisted tonight, and I don't know what to do?
I'm twisted tonight, I want to be with you, I want to be with you,
I want to be with you, be with, be with, be with you..
Safe tonight (x10)
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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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.
Yes, it does seem odd for Anti-Flag to do a song involving a girl like that. However, i would have to agree with Toologist. I love this song.