"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.
Now, I'm not the type to just act like I know
Puttin' on an angle, puttin' on a show
Speakin' on nothin' makes you a stunt
I'll tell you right here yo, I won't front
I cross the T's and skip non legitimacies
Or else, please
I cannot handle all the negative vibe merchants
Is that all you have in you perchance
So much angst an' pain, it's so wack
You should take a tip from the one, Frank Black
Play some Pachinko, play some Parcheesi
Because all the angst shit is just cheesy
It's the 311 bliss, too smooth for pissed
Lyrics talkin' loud again, yeah, we are the party men
Cosmetics that you fretted, we sport a high aesthetic
Here go rap kickin' the dazzled crazy mathematic
(C'mon)
I am what I am, mix some old school jams
Onto tape 'cause the party's in the crates, I scan
Step into the realm, what you gonna do
Get the party people somethin' funky to listen to
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got
It's body rock, pop and lock, here's an example
Boulevard Chrome beats always ampin' your temple
Punks get got in the age of hip hop
It's just begun like stolen bikes on a blacktop
(C'mon)
Born to sing a lyric, immaculately concepted
No strain in your game, if your game is respected
Come as you are, radio star
Drown out the hatred with a rhyme an' electric guitar
(Yeah)
Dispatched when rap, shattered, the glass of radio access
May we turn some soul on their rythmless dances
You know the time and they'll know the scoop
They'll say it was a rhyme and a beat of a rap group
Your rhymes have been outmoded
Your rhymes have been outmoded
Your rhymes have been outmoded
Your rhymes have been outmoded
Your rhymes have been outmoded
So just quit your belly achin'
You're sayin' that you're tortured
Give me a fuckin' break and maybe
Take out the source of your disparin'
What do I mean? Kick the fuckin' heroin
I speak from experience
Because I didn't see clearly
Actin' like a dunce in 1989
I was Cocaine an' Jim Beam
But now it's 95 and I'm Ginseng
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got
Puttin' on an angle, puttin' on a show
Speakin' on nothin' makes you a stunt
I'll tell you right here yo, I won't front
I cross the T's and skip non legitimacies
Or else, please
I cannot handle all the negative vibe merchants
Is that all you have in you perchance
So much angst an' pain, it's so wack
You should take a tip from the one, Frank Black
Play some Pachinko, play some Parcheesi
Because all the angst shit is just cheesy
It's the 311 bliss, too smooth for pissed
Lyrics talkin' loud again, yeah, we are the party men
Cosmetics that you fretted, we sport a high aesthetic
Here go rap kickin' the dazzled crazy mathematic
(C'mon)
I am what I am, mix some old school jams
Onto tape 'cause the party's in the crates, I scan
Step into the realm, what you gonna do
Get the party people somethin' funky to listen to
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got
It's body rock, pop and lock, here's an example
Boulevard Chrome beats always ampin' your temple
Punks get got in the age of hip hop
It's just begun like stolen bikes on a blacktop
(C'mon)
Born to sing a lyric, immaculately concepted
No strain in your game, if your game is respected
Come as you are, radio star
Drown out the hatred with a rhyme an' electric guitar
(Yeah)
Dispatched when rap, shattered, the glass of radio access
May we turn some soul on their rythmless dances
You know the time and they'll know the scoop
They'll say it was a rhyme and a beat of a rap group
Your rhymes have been outmoded
Your rhymes have been outmoded
Your rhymes have been outmoded
Your rhymes have been outmoded
Your rhymes have been outmoded
So just quit your belly achin'
You're sayin' that you're tortured
Give me a fuckin' break and maybe
Take out the source of your disparin'
What do I mean? Kick the fuckin' heroin
I speak from experience
Because I didn't see clearly
Actin' like a dunce in 1989
I was Cocaine an' Jim Beam
But now it's 95 and I'm Ginseng
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got, see
Misdirected hostility, that's what you got
Lyrics submitted by pen1234567
Misdirected Hostility Lyrics as written by Nicholas Hexum Douglas Martinez
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
this song is Cool, I always find myself listening to hive-guns-misdirected all in a row. I dont think the "Come as you are" part is rly about Nirvana, maybe it is. Hes talking about his punk roots getting drowned out by rap. Like alot of SA's lyrics i think hes talking about how hes better than all of these Rappers out there with "rhythmless dances" You know the time and they'll know the scoop They'll say it was a rhyme and a beat of a rap group
I think mainstream RAP nowadays is pretty shitty, lyrics-wise. The beats are ok but not the rhymes like 311.
Your rhymes have been outmoded!