"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.
Waking up at twelve in my clothes again
Feel my head explode from a night of gin
Another night out late
I don't wanna drink
Don't wanna be a clown
Gotta get my feet back on the ground
Before it pulls me in
How come it ended up like this?
And who's gonna catch me
When I'm coming down to hit the ground again?
All by myself (waking up at twelve in my clothes again)
'Cause I don't wanna drag you down
Hold you down
'Cause you're a friend
I blame myself (feel my head explode from a night of gin)
I guess you think it's funny now
Funny now
On the underground
With the freaks and frowns
Looking at the world
Through silver clouds
But then it all came down
I've gotta rise above
The emotional flood
Gotta cut these ropes around my hands
Pull myself around
How come it ended up like this?
And who's gonna be there
When I've lost control and I'm heading to crash-land?
All by myself (waking up at twelve in my clothes again)
'Cause I don't wanna drag you down
Hold you down
'Cause you're a friend
I blame myself (feel my head explode from a night of gin)
I guess you think it's funny now
Funny now
All by myself
'Cause I don't wanna drag you down
Hold you down
'Cause you're a friend
I blame myself
I guess you think it's funny now
Funny now
It's such a shame
All by myself (waking up at twelve in my clothes again)
'Cause I don't wanna drag you down
Hold you down
'Cause you're a friend
I blame myself (feel my head explode from a night of gin)
I guess you think it's funny now
Funny now
It's such a sin
All by myself (waking up at twelve in my clothes again)
'Cause I don't wanna drag you down
Hold you down
'Cause you're a friend
I blame myself (feel my head explode from a night of gin)
I guess you think it's funny now
Funny now
Feel my head explode from a night of gin
Another night out late
I don't wanna drink
Don't wanna be a clown
Gotta get my feet back on the ground
Before it pulls me in
How come it ended up like this?
And who's gonna catch me
When I'm coming down to hit the ground again?
All by myself (waking up at twelve in my clothes again)
'Cause I don't wanna drag you down
Hold you down
'Cause you're a friend
I blame myself (feel my head explode from a night of gin)
I guess you think it's funny now
Funny now
On the underground
With the freaks and frowns
Looking at the world
Through silver clouds
But then it all came down
I've gotta rise above
The emotional flood
Gotta cut these ropes around my hands
Pull myself around
How come it ended up like this?
And who's gonna be there
When I've lost control and I'm heading to crash-land?
All by myself (waking up at twelve in my clothes again)
'Cause I don't wanna drag you down
Hold you down
'Cause you're a friend
I blame myself (feel my head explode from a night of gin)
I guess you think it's funny now
Funny now
All by myself
'Cause I don't wanna drag you down
Hold you down
'Cause you're a friend
I blame myself
I guess you think it's funny now
Funny now
It's such a shame
All by myself (waking up at twelve in my clothes again)
'Cause I don't wanna drag you down
Hold you down
'Cause you're a friend
I blame myself (feel my head explode from a night of gin)
I guess you think it's funny now
Funny now
It's such a sin
All by myself (waking up at twelve in my clothes again)
'Cause I don't wanna drag you down
Hold you down
'Cause you're a friend
I blame myself (feel my head explode from a night of gin)
I guess you think it's funny now
Funny now
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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/
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.
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.
just a fucking excellent song one of the best :-D