"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.
Don't just stare, 'cause she's not wearing underwear
Em-em-em-em-em-em-em-em
Oh how rude, at least she's got you're attention square
Em-em-em-em-em-em-em-em
Don't you realize, It's just her disguise
Ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai
Hey! mum look, no more panty line
Ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai
Shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa
I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
Peek-a-boo look into the mirror
Now you see her, now you'll be her
Hover your lips, twirl your hair
Pretend you're there, pretend it ain't there
Little girl playing in the closet
First comes walking, then comes talking
Peek-a-boo look into the mirror
She says: "who am I?"
Inside! outside!
Inside, outside, inside, outside, inside, outside,
Inside, outside, inside, outside
Shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa
Hm-a-hm-a-hm-a-hm-a
Da-da-da-da-da
Don't just stare, 'cause she's not wearing underwear
Em-em-em-em-em-em-em-em
Oh how rude, at least she's got you're attention square
Em-em-em-em-em-em-em-em
Don't you realize, it's just her disguise
Ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai
Hey! mum look, no more panty line
Ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai
I-a-o-a-I-a-a-o-a-I-a-you-a-I-a-I-I-you-a
Em-em-em-em-em-em-em-em
Oh how rude, at least she's got you're attention square
Em-em-em-em-em-em-em-em
Don't you realize, It's just her disguise
Ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai
Hey! mum look, no more panty line
Ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai
Shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa
I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
Peek-a-boo look into the mirror
Now you see her, now you'll be her
Hover your lips, twirl your hair
Pretend you're there, pretend it ain't there
Little girl playing in the closet
First comes walking, then comes talking
Peek-a-boo look into the mirror
She says: "who am I?"
Inside! outside!
Inside, outside, inside, outside, inside, outside,
Inside, outside, inside, outside
Shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa shoewa
Hm-a-hm-a-hm-a-hm-a
Da-da-da-da-da
Don't just stare, 'cause she's not wearing underwear
Em-em-em-em-em-em-em-em
Oh how rude, at least she's got you're attention square
Em-em-em-em-em-em-em-em
Don't you realize, it's just her disguise
Ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai
Hey! mum look, no more panty line
Ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai
I-a-o-a-I-a-a-o-a-I-a-you-a-I-a-I-I-you-a
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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,
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
i love it too, it's edgy & kim sounds awesome & brash.
seems to be appealing to the riot grrl movement mentality - mocking women who are focused on outward image, sex-appeal, impressing men, & being stereotypical housewives.
This song is about feminism and how stupid being superficial and into traditional girl stuff is. I love the weird sounds she makes. She sounds cute.
More girls should be feminists.
Actually, this is one of my favorites off of Washing Machine. I like how Kim sings it, and I think it's a fun sort of catchy song. It's the sort of song that's not to be taken very seriously.
Although I can understand why it would get on some people's nerves, I like this song. The instrumentation is interesting in that dissonant Sonic Youth way, and I love Kim's bratty delivery. I doubt any other band could make this work.
I love this song. :P
This song is seriously underrated. The lyrics and Kim's delivery are pretty hilarious, recalling some of Yoko Ono's freestyle vocalizations, although the music is more interesting than much of Yoko's work and give the song a much stronger hook factor. I decided to sync up the song some visuals that add to the silliness of the song (youtube.com/watch). I have a theory that people who dislike this song do not understand Kim's twisted sense of humour.
Actually, this is one of my favorites off of Washing Machine. I like how Kim sings it, and I think it's a fun sort of catchy song. It's the sort of song that's not to be taken very seriously.
lol definitely one of Kim's weirder moments
This is the only Sonic Youth song that I can't stand. Kim sounds stupid at the end.