"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 said you couldn't stay
You've seen it all before, I know
They sold you on their way
Oh, honey, that's okay
No harm, he's armed
Settin' off all your alarms
When I find out
I hope it's you who set this trap
And storefronts rarely change
At least I'm on my own again
Instead of anywhere with you
Oh, tell me it's all the same
And I lost my page again
I know this is so rare
But I'll try my luck with you
This life is on my side
Well, I am your one
Believe me, this is a chance, oh, oh
Let's see what is for sale
He's tryin' hard to give his job a chance
Oh, it's never gonna be
It's sad, but I agree
The signals don't seem right
They last for just one night, and then
I'm sorry that I said
That we were just good friends
No harm, he's armed
Setting off all your alarms
They're trapped, I can't
Be there in time, I'll think about that
And I lost my page again
I know this is so rare
But I'll try my luck with you
This life is on my side
Well, I am your one
Believe me, this is a chance, oh, oh
You've seen it all before, I know
They sold you on their way
Oh, honey, that's okay
No harm, he's armed
Settin' off all your alarms
When I find out
I hope it's you who set this trap
And storefronts rarely change
At least I'm on my own again
Instead of anywhere with you
Oh, tell me it's all the same
And I lost my page again
I know this is so rare
But I'll try my luck with you
This life is on my side
Well, I am your one
Believe me, this is a chance, oh, oh
Let's see what is for sale
He's tryin' hard to give his job a chance
Oh, it's never gonna be
It's sad, but I agree
The signals don't seem right
They last for just one night, and then
I'm sorry that I said
That we were just good friends
No harm, he's armed
Setting off all your alarms
They're trapped, I can't
Be there in time, I'll think about that
And I lost my page again
I know this is so rare
But I'll try my luck with you
This life is on my side
Well, I am your one
Believe me, this is a chance, oh, oh
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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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
This song is awesome. Amazingly, this was the first Strokes song I ever heard and I fell in love with it and them instantly.