"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'm not waiting for the answers
On a Sunday afternoon
I'm just too drunk to remember
Why I always slip through
The drugs and fake ambition
Have been helping me to hide
But it's the endless television
That has kept me inside
Where does it stop?
Where does it end?
Where do we go?
Why am I always complaining?
I can be good
I can be bad
I can be loved
But everything's gone black
You're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Black, you're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
I'm not asking for forgiveness
For the things that I don't know
But I'm really not that different
You just made me think so
Where does it stop?
Where does it end?
Where do we go?
Why am I always complaining?
I can be good
I can be bad
I can be loved
But everything's gone black
You're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Black, you're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie..
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie..
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
You're the big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
Black
You're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Black, you're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
And I'll remember this someday
Black, you're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Black, you're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
On a Sunday afternoon
I'm just too drunk to remember
Why I always slip through
The drugs and fake ambition
Have been helping me to hide
But it's the endless television
That has kept me inside
Where does it stop?
Where does it end?
Where do we go?
Why am I always complaining?
I can be good
I can be bad
I can be loved
But everything's gone black
You're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Black, you're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
I'm not asking for forgiveness
For the things that I don't know
But I'm really not that different
You just made me think so
Where does it stop?
Where does it end?
Where do we go?
Why am I always complaining?
I can be good
I can be bad
I can be loved
But everything's gone black
You're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Black, you're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie..
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie..
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
You're the big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
Black
You're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Black, you're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
And I'll remember this someday
Black, you're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Black, you're looking for that sun
You're looking for that light
Lonely, you're not the only one to feel this way
Big green monkey, everyone's a junkie
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
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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/
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
The reason these lyrics are different from those that were in the version recorded on Spiritual Machines is because these were likely transcribed from a live recording of this song made during the Summersault 2000 tour. I was at the Montreal show, and I have a live recording of the Montreal set, and the lyrics above are just the way they are sung in the live, early version of the song. The lyrics were just changed (a lot) for the finished version of the song.