"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.
Well, I heard some people talkin' just the other day
And they said you were gonna put me on a shelf
But let me tell you I got some news for you
And you'll soon find out it's true
And then you'll have to eat your lunch all by yourself
'Cause I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this victory song
Woo-hoo-hoo, my, my, woo-hoo-hoo
The letter that you wrote me
Made me stop and wonder why
But I guess you felt like you had to set things right
Just remember this, my girl, when you look up in the sky
You can see the stars and still not see the light
(That's right)
And I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this victory song
Woo-hoo-hoo, my, my, woo-hoo-hoo
Well, I know it wasn't you who held me down
Heaven knows it wasn't you who set me free
So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key
But me, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing (I will sing) this victory song
'Cause I'm already gone
Yes, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this victory song
'Cause I'm already gone
Yes, I'm already gone
Already gone
All right, nighty-night
Already gone
Already gone
And they said you were gonna put me on a shelf
But let me tell you I got some news for you
And you'll soon find out it's true
And then you'll have to eat your lunch all by yourself
'Cause I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this victory song
Woo-hoo-hoo, my, my, woo-hoo-hoo
The letter that you wrote me
Made me stop and wonder why
But I guess you felt like you had to set things right
Just remember this, my girl, when you look up in the sky
You can see the stars and still not see the light
(That's right)
And I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this victory song
Woo-hoo-hoo, my, my, woo-hoo-hoo
Well, I know it wasn't you who held me down
Heaven knows it wasn't you who set me free
So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key
But me, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing (I will sing) this victory song
'Cause I'm already gone
Yes, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this victory song
'Cause I'm already gone
Yes, I'm already gone
Already gone
All right, nighty-night
Already gone
Already gone
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by BR0ck94
Already Gone Lyrics as written by Robert Arnold Strandlund Jack Tempchin
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
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.
"So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains And we never even know we have the key"
Greatest lyric of all time! This applies to life in general, not just relationships. Each and every one of us holds the key to our own happiness. It's within all of us to choose our emotional state of mind. Heaven or Hell is within us all.
This song is so true!!!! ... I can't think of a better way to say good bye to the past then with this song ... When I hear this song, I always remeber that .... THINGS ALWAYS WORK OUT IN THE END!!!!
Too bloody obvious. You hear it "thru' the grapevine" that your girl is going to leave you, well you won't give her the pleasure! Cos you're already gone.
Hello come here often? No apparently not. :(
I love this song, because i can relate to the "You can't fire me, I quit! flips the bird" mentality hahaha plus the opening guitar is a great opening to On the Border
Final verese holds the key to this - lift your head up, see what you can do - fly - Get a positive vibe for yourself
Great Song. You gotta love the synical, childish line of: "And then you'll have to eat your lunch all by yourself" Its as if its a teasing throwaway line.
"Well I know it wasn't you who held me down Heaven knows it wasn't you who set me free So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains And we never even know we have the key".......One of the best song lyrics EVER!!!! So many people many breakup with some one or get heartbroken and think the world is coming to an end....They are soo positive about the situation and that only WE have the power to make ourselves happy...It's not someone or something that can set us free, its ourselves!!!
The eagles rock my world...just started to get into them, and they have amazing harmonies, lyrics, and songwriting ability...I wish most of the music today could stop and realize what the "old rock" has to offer us: meaning!
Most amazing thing ever: Walking out of high school, the day of graduation. iPod on at full volume, this song comes on. Three of my closest friends and I just start beltin' it out like there's no tomorrow, and wave goodbye to the principal and IB coordinator. Felt like I was on top of the world at that moment.
Love the Eagles!
"Memento Mori Ergo Crape Diem"
what's the meaning of the"Memento Mori Ergo Crape Diem"?
"Memento Mori Ergo Carpe Diem".<br /> "Memento Mori" means;"Remember your mortality", " Remember you must die" or "Remember you will die". <br /> "Carpe Diem"-they spelled it wrong above means "seize the day". <br /> ;)
Aren't you the master interpreter? cough
@agmlego guess you had to be there
@agmlego guess you had to be there
I LOVE this song! Great meaning, great message, great way to live life.
this song is all about a girl that's trying to hold him down. and he's getting away from here. she's only holding him back and gettin him down.
but he's already gone!