"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.
This is the story of a boy named Ted
If his mother said, Ted, be good, he would
She told him tales about his soldier dad
But it made her sad, then she'd cry, oh my
Ted used to tell her he'd be twice as good
And he knew he could, because in his head
He said, mommy don't worry, now Teddy boy's here
Taking good care of you
Mommy don't worry, your teddy boy's here
Teddy's going to see you through
Then came the day she found herself a man
Teddy turned and ran, far away, okay
He couldn't stand to see his mother in love
With another man, he didn't know, oh no
He found a place where he could settle down
And from time to time, in his head
He said, mommy don't worry, now Teddy boy's here
Taking good care of you
Mommy don't worry, your teddy boy's here
Teddy's going to see you through
She said, Teddy don't worry, now mommy is here
Taking good care of you
Teddy don't worry, your mommy is here
Mommy's going to see you through
This is the story of a boy named Ted
If his mother said, Ted, be good, he would
If his mother said, Ted, be good, he would
She told him tales about his soldier dad
But it made her sad, then she'd cry, oh my
Ted used to tell her he'd be twice as good
And he knew he could, because in his head
He said, mommy don't worry, now Teddy boy's here
Taking good care of you
Mommy don't worry, your teddy boy's here
Teddy's going to see you through
Then came the day she found herself a man
Teddy turned and ran, far away, okay
He couldn't stand to see his mother in love
With another man, he didn't know, oh no
He found a place where he could settle down
And from time to time, in his head
He said, mommy don't worry, now Teddy boy's here
Taking good care of you
Mommy don't worry, your teddy boy's here
Teddy's going to see you through
She said, Teddy don't worry, now mommy is here
Taking good care of you
Teddy don't worry, your mommy is here
Mommy's going to see you through
This is the story of a boy named Ted
If his mother said, Ted, be good, he would
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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 song is most likely about John Lennon, and his early life and troubles. Let's assert the lyrics.
Ted is John. The "Teddy Boy" is probably referring to the Teddy fashion that was popular when John was young. John was very respectful to his mother Julia, so when she said to "Be good," then of course, he would. The "soldier dad" is his father Alf, who left John and Julia when John was only 5. This kind of memory would make any mother sad. The chorus is John conforting his mother. After Alf left, Julia started seeing a man named John Dykins. They were married, and John was sent away to Julia's sister, Mimi. While this isn't exactly "running far away," I think that part of the song represents this part of John's life. The final part of the song is John's memories of his mother, and how she still was with him, even after her tragic death by a car accident in 1958.
The song is very touching andsad if you think about it this way.