"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.
Uh, yeah
Another one of those
(This is for my nigga Q)
Down to earth joints
(Rest in peace, baby
You know how we roll)
There's so many that don't know (you knew I could do it)
They don't know who we be (this goes out to my nigga Q, rest in peace, baby)
They don't know who we be (but you still here with me)
What they don't know is
The bullshit, the drama (uh), the guns, the armor (uh)
The city, the farmer, the babies, the mama (what)
The projects, the drugs (uh), the children, the thugs (uh)
The tears, the hugs, the love, the slugs (come on)
The funerals, the wakes, the churches, the coffins (uh)
The heartbroken mothers, it happens too often (why?)
The problems, the things we use to solve 'em (what)
Yonkers, the Bronx (uh), Brooklyn, Harlem (come on)
The hurt, the pain, the dirt, the rain (uh)
The jerk, the fame, the work, the game (uh)
The friends, the foes, the Benz, the hoes (what)
The studios, the shows, comes and it goes (come on)
The jealousy, the envy, the phony, the friendly (uh-huh)
The one that gave 'em the slugs, the one that put 'em in me (woo)
The snakes, the grass too long to see (uh, uh)
The lawnmower sittin' right next to the tree (come on)
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
What we seeing is
The streets, the cops, the system, harassment (uh-huh)
The options, get shot, go to jail, or getcha ass kicked (aight)
The lawyers, the part they are of the puzzle (uh-huh)
The release, the warning, "Try not, to get in trouble" (damn)
The snitches, the odds (uh), probation, parole (what)
The new charge, the bail, the warrant, the hole (damn)
The cell, the bus, the ride up north (uh-huh)
The greens, the boots, the yard, the court (uh)
The fightin', the stabbin', the pullin', the grabbin' (what)
The riot squad with the captain, nobody knows what happened (what)
The two years in a box, revenge, the plots (uh)
The twenty-three hours that's locked, the one hour that's not (uh)
The silence, the dark, the mind so fragile (aight)
The wish that the streets would have took you when they had you (damn)
The days, the months, the years, despair
One night on my knees, here it comes, the prayer
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
This here is all about
My wife, my kids (uh-huh), the life that I live (uh-huh)
Through the night I was his (uh-huh), it was right what I did (uh-huh)
My ups and downs (uh), my slips, my falls (uh)
My trials and tribulations (uh), my heart, my balls (uh)
My mother, my father, I love 'em, I hate 'em (uh)
Wish God, I didn't have 'em, but I'm glad that he made 'em (uh)
The roaches, the rats, the strays, the cats (what, what)
The guns, knives and bats, every time we scrap
The hustlin', the dealin', the robbin', the stealin' (uh)
The shit hit the ceilin', little boy with no feelin's (damn)
The frustration, rage, trapped inside a cage
The beatings 'til the age I carried a twelve gauge (aight)
Somebody stop me (please), somebody come and get me (what)
Little did I know that the Lord was ridin' with me
The dark, the light (uh), my heart (uh), the fight (uh)
The wrong (uh), the right (uh), it's gone (uh), aight
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be (come on)
(They don't know who we be) Man, listen
(They don't know who we be) These motherfuckers don't know who we are, they don't know
(They don't know who we be) They couldn't possibly fuckin' know, dog)
That's from the heart
(Come on)
(Dog, this shit is crazy)
Another one of those
(This is for my nigga Q)
Down to earth joints
(Rest in peace, baby
You know how we roll)
There's so many that don't know (you knew I could do it)
They don't know who we be (this goes out to my nigga Q, rest in peace, baby)
They don't know who we be (but you still here with me)
What they don't know is
The bullshit, the drama (uh), the guns, the armor (uh)
The city, the farmer, the babies, the mama (what)
The projects, the drugs (uh), the children, the thugs (uh)
The tears, the hugs, the love, the slugs (come on)
The funerals, the wakes, the churches, the coffins (uh)
The heartbroken mothers, it happens too often (why?)
The problems, the things we use to solve 'em (what)
Yonkers, the Bronx (uh), Brooklyn, Harlem (come on)
The hurt, the pain, the dirt, the rain (uh)
The jerk, the fame, the work, the game (uh)
The friends, the foes, the Benz, the hoes (what)
The studios, the shows, comes and it goes (come on)
The jealousy, the envy, the phony, the friendly (uh-huh)
The one that gave 'em the slugs, the one that put 'em in me (woo)
The snakes, the grass too long to see (uh, uh)
The lawnmower sittin' right next to the tree (come on)
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
What we seeing is
The streets, the cops, the system, harassment (uh-huh)
The options, get shot, go to jail, or getcha ass kicked (aight)
The lawyers, the part they are of the puzzle (uh-huh)
The release, the warning, "Try not, to get in trouble" (damn)
The snitches, the odds (uh), probation, parole (what)
The new charge, the bail, the warrant, the hole (damn)
The cell, the bus, the ride up north (uh-huh)
The greens, the boots, the yard, the court (uh)
The fightin', the stabbin', the pullin', the grabbin' (what)
The riot squad with the captain, nobody knows what happened (what)
The two years in a box, revenge, the plots (uh)
The twenty-three hours that's locked, the one hour that's not (uh)
The silence, the dark, the mind so fragile (aight)
The wish that the streets would have took you when they had you (damn)
The days, the months, the years, despair
One night on my knees, here it comes, the prayer
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
This here is all about
My wife, my kids (uh-huh), the life that I live (uh-huh)
Through the night I was his (uh-huh), it was right what I did (uh-huh)
My ups and downs (uh), my slips, my falls (uh)
My trials and tribulations (uh), my heart, my balls (uh)
My mother, my father, I love 'em, I hate 'em (uh)
Wish God, I didn't have 'em, but I'm glad that he made 'em (uh)
The roaches, the rats, the strays, the cats (what, what)
The guns, knives and bats, every time we scrap
The hustlin', the dealin', the robbin', the stealin' (uh)
The shit hit the ceilin', little boy with no feelin's (damn)
The frustration, rage, trapped inside a cage
The beatings 'til the age I carried a twelve gauge (aight)
Somebody stop me (please), somebody come and get me (what)
Little did I know that the Lord was ridin' with me
The dark, the light (uh), my heart (uh), the fight (uh)
The wrong (uh), the right (uh), it's gone (uh), aight
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be
They don't know who we be (come on)
(They don't know who we be) Man, listen
(They don't know who we be) These motherfuckers don't know who we are, they don't know
(They don't know who we be) They couldn't possibly fuckin' know, dog)
That's from the heart
(Come on)
(Dog, this shit is crazy)
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
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.
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.
Most underrated rap song, ever.