"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.
If you want to find yourself by traveling out west
Or if you want to find somebody else that's better
Go ahead
If you want to buy a brand new fancy automobile
Or if you want to build a place up in Coldwater Canyon
Go ahead
I wish you would
Go ahead
If you want to hold your own hand going up that cliff
Or if you want to just hold back cause you ain't up to it
Go ahead
Be my guest
Go ahead
If you want to hold on to the first girl that you meet
Or if you want to settle down and plant roses at my feet
Go ahead
I wish you would
Go ahead
If you want to have your cake and eat it too
Or if you want to have other people watch you while you eat it
Go ahead
If you want better things, I want you to have them
If you want better things, I want you to have them
Go ahead
I wish you would
Go ahead
Or if you want to find somebody else that's better
Go ahead
If you want to buy a brand new fancy automobile
Or if you want to build a place up in Coldwater Canyon
Go ahead
I wish you would
Go ahead
If you want to hold your own hand going up that cliff
Or if you want to just hold back cause you ain't up to it
Go ahead
Be my guest
Go ahead
If you want to hold on to the first girl that you meet
Or if you want to settle down and plant roses at my feet
Go ahead
I wish you would
Go ahead
If you want to have your cake and eat it too
Or if you want to have other people watch you while you eat it
Go ahead
If you want better things, I want you to have them
If you want better things, I want you to have them
Go ahead
I wish you would
Go ahead
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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."
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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 don't think it's really supposed to be encouraging. Pretending to be stronger/healthier/more confident than you really are is a common theme in RK songs (ex: the last few lines of "My Slumbering Heart"). So I think it's really that she's saying "go ahead, do whatever you want, I want you to be happy" but she's making such a big deal out of it it's obvious she doesn't want the person to do that at all.
@mockingsmile I agree with your assessment.<br /> <br /> Am I the only one who thought there might be a kinky sexual connotation to the "have your cake and eat it too, Or if you want to have other people watch you while you eat it" part?<br /> <br /> Seems like the dude has unrealistic or "grass is greener thoughts" about their relationship and has already jumped ship. I think this song is her feeble attempt to be strong and "get over" him.
when I hear this song it tells me not to limit myself. like it says "if u want better things" I luv this song
this song reminds me of when you get to a certain point with a lover where they just don't seem ready to commit, and you're so tired of caring about it that you finally give up and say, "I wish you would go ahead and DO something, you bastard. Even if it means you're leaving me."
" If you want to have your cake and eat it too Or if you want to have other people watch you while you eat it Go ahead "
that was lame. rilo kiley is great. but that was lame.
that line mentioned by museformurderers IS insanely lame, but for some reason i don't mind it. it just seems to my idea of the tone of the song, which is an awkward, clumsy sort of thing--like she's been caught slightly off balance and is trying to retalliate as best she can.
:( I like that line. It's cute. The whole song is cute.
I think this song is about accepting the fact that someone wants to move on with their life. And basically tell them to go do whatever the hell they want, even if it is to go and eat a cake. :)
that line about the cake is probably referring to a lyric in LAY LADY LAY by BOB DYLAN.
uhhh i dont know about that, umm.. maggotbrain? "have your cake and eat it too" is a pretty common phrase. i doubt it had anything to do with a bob dylan song haha. Mmm Go Ahead.
This song is about being yourself and creating your own path. This may include defying conventional wisdom i.e. can’t have your cake and eat it too (great lyric by the way, really defines the overall meaning of the song). Notice how the guitar emphasizes this line more than any others? Also, if you feel the need to prove yourself, heck, have people watch you eat that darn cake. If not, that’s fine too. Anyhow, live your life the way you see fit. Do not get lost within the mold of others. If you are eager for adventure, be adventurous. If you prefer serenity, create it for yourself. Why would anyone else be better at making decisions about you than yourself? She then analyzes a relationship through this lens of thinking. A perfect relationship is with someone whom you can truly be yourself with. The unselfish plea to go find it with someone else if it isn’t achieved with me shows that her actions mimic her beliefs at her most vulnerable moment. The grand idea promoted within this song is simple and logical but not applied nearly enough within many people’s lives.