"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.
What’s the problem with the human race?
No matter where I turn I can’t escape the double face
Don’t want to listen to the radio
Or stick around just to hear "I told you so"
How could we make it without you?
I should've known better to doubt you
I thought I heard the end of it
And now I know how far you'd go
To be the next freak show
American Psycho
Cover of the magazines, patron saint to troubled teens
Wish I’d never heard your name
Tomorrow could be just another day
A misdemeanor or a felony, that's ok
Don't wanna wait for a second chance
It’s your turn for the spotlight, the big dance
How could we make it without you?
I should've known better to doubt you
I thought I heard the end of it
And now I know how far you'd go
To be the next freak show
American Psycho
Cover of the magazines, patron saint to troubled teens
Wish I’d never heard your name
And they all wanna know
But I already know
What am I supposed to do
When you know that it’s all true
That you stole, that you lied, that you knew
Primadonna, self absorbed
Wide awake and never bored
Party, binge and purge, and see
Results of plastic surgery
Spotted at the hottest shows
Interview on Charlie Rose
They all want a piece of you
And now I know how far you;d go
To be the next freak show
American Psycho
Cover of the magazines, patron saint to troubled teens
Wish I never heard your name
And they all wanna know
How far you had to go
And I already know
How far you had to go!
No matter where I turn I can’t escape the double face
Don’t want to listen to the radio
Or stick around just to hear "I told you so"
How could we make it without you?
I should've known better to doubt you
I thought I heard the end of it
And now I know how far you'd go
To be the next freak show
American Psycho
Cover of the magazines, patron saint to troubled teens
Wish I’d never heard your name
Tomorrow could be just another day
A misdemeanor or a felony, that's ok
Don't wanna wait for a second chance
It’s your turn for the spotlight, the big dance
How could we make it without you?
I should've known better to doubt you
I thought I heard the end of it
And now I know how far you'd go
To be the next freak show
American Psycho
Cover of the magazines, patron saint to troubled teens
Wish I’d never heard your name
And they all wanna know
But I already know
What am I supposed to do
When you know that it’s all true
That you stole, that you lied, that you knew
Primadonna, self absorbed
Wide awake and never bored
Party, binge and purge, and see
Results of plastic surgery
Spotted at the hottest shows
Interview on Charlie Rose
They all want a piece of you
And now I know how far you;d go
To be the next freak show
American Psycho
Cover of the magazines, patron saint to troubled teens
Wish I never heard your name
And they all wanna know
How far you had to go
And I already know
How far you had to go!
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
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.
Woah those lyrics are horribly wrong.
Awesome song though, it's about a regular person selling out and becoming "Cover of the magazines, patron saint for troubled teens"....