"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.
Frank zappa (guitar, synclavier)
Steve vai (guitar)
Ray white (guitar, vocals)
Tommy mars (keyboards)
Chuck wild (piano)
Arthur barrow (bass)
Scott thunes (bass)
Jay anderson (string bass)
Ed mann (percussion)
Chad wackerman (drums)
Ike willis (vocals)
Terry bozzio (vocals)
Dale bozzio (vocals)
Napoleon murphy brock (vocals)
Bob harris (vocals)
Johnny "guitar" watson (vocals)
Ensemble: (displaying dummy #1)
Do you know what you are?
Thing-fish:
Dat what I ast ya!
Ensemble:
You are what you is you is what you am
Thing-fish:
And dat de trufe!
Ensemble:
(a cow don't make ham...)
Thing-fish:
I meant dat now!
Ensemble:
You ain't what you're not
Thing-fish:
Not even hardly...
Ensemble:
So see what you got
Thing-fish:
And you got a lot o' lookin' t'do, junior!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Thing-fish:
Dat entirely too correct!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it 'tis!
Thing-fish:
Uh-huhhhh!
Ensemble:
A foolish young man
Thing-fish:
Bring dat dummy ovuh heah 'n show it to 'em!
Ensemble:
Stashed away in san quentim ate de mys'try potatoes
Thing-fish:
Told ya 'bout dem 'taters!
Ensemble:
Evil prince was inventin' now he talk like de thing-fish
Thing-fish: (manipulating the dummy)
("hmmmm, saffiiiee!")
Ensemble:
An' he look like a mammy!
Thing-fish: (manipulating the dummy)
("see de mammy, now! see de mammy, now!")
Ensemble:
His fav'rit co-log-numm...
Thing-fish:
Smell like...
Sister potato head bobby brown, sister ghenghis adonis osmosis, sister jasmine noxema tapioca:
Chitlins!
Ensemble:
Is de one dey call 'sammy'!
Thing-fish:
One-adam-twelve...see de mammy...
Ensemble:
He finally layin'
Thing-fish:
Armed 'n dangerous, reproach wit cautium!
Ensemble:
De whole thang down, 'cept de nivea lotium!
Thing-fish:
Rub it on good, now!
Ensemble:
An de royal crown!
Thing-fish:
Take good care o' dat "ash"!
Ensemble:
Do you know what you are?
Thing-fish:
You's a wimp...she's a shrew!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Thing-fish:
Got dat?
Ensemble:
You is what you am
Thing-fish:
One-adam-twelve, see de mammy agin'!
Ensemble:
(a cow don't make ham...)
Thing-fish:
And it never will...
Ensemble:
You ain't what you're not,
Thing-fish:
Unless science do somethin' 'bout it!
Ensemble:
So see what you got!
Thing-fish:
I know dey woikin' on it...
Ensemble:
You are what you is,
Thing-fish:
Underneath virginia!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it 'tis!
Thing-fish:
Boog-boogmmm, dano..."mammy one"! they toss dummy number one into the wings, an d introduce dummy number two to harry & rhonda. their torture-chairs, (on a rolling platform), are wheeled to center
E. the action takes place all around them.
Ensemble: (showing dummy #2)
A foolish young man
Of de negro persuasion
Devoted his life
To become a caucasian
He stopped eating pork
He stopped eating greens
He trade his dashiki
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon: (manipulating the dummy)
("uhuru!")
Ensemble:
For some jordache jeans!
He learned to play golf
An' he got a good score
Now he says to himself:
"I ain't no..."
Thing-fish:
"nignint!"
Ensemble:
No more...hey! hey! hey!"
Thing-fish:
One-adam-twelve, see de "nignint" wit knife... proceed wif cautium...knife may be open...
Ensemble:
Bwana ma-coo-bah
Harry:
All right! let's go!
Ensemble:
Mercedes bainnnzzzzz!
Ensemble:
Who is who?
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon: (singing)
I don't know...
Ensemble:
'n what is what
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Somethin' I just don't know...
Ensemble:
'n why is this
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Tell me now...
Ensemble:
Appropriot
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
That's a funny pronunciation, if'n ever I heard one!
Ensemble:
If you don't like
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Where'd you get that word?
Ensemble:
What you has got
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Appropriot? the word is not!
Ensemble:
Drop it in the dirt
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Drop it, yeah!
Ensemble:
'n let it rot
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I can smell it now!
Ensemble:
Someone else
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Here de come, here de come!
Ensemble:
Will surely come
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I told you he was comin'!
Ensemble:
'n pick it up
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
That's right!
Ensemble:
'cause he wants some
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
An' he wants it for free!
Ensemble:
And when one day
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
There will come a day!
Ensemble:
You wonder who
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I wonder too!
Ensemble:
You used to was
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Who I was, anyway!
Ensemble:
'n what you do
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I used to work at the post office!
Ensemble:
You'll scratch your head
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
But I don't wanna un-do my doo!
Ensemble:
'n look around
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
To see what's goin' on!
Ensemble:
But what you lost
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Can't seem to find it!
Ensemble:
Will not be found
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
A mercedes benz!
Ensemble:
Do you know what you are?
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I know!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I'm the kinda guy...
Ensemble:
You is what you am
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
That ought to be drivin'
Ensemble:
A cow don't make ham
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
A four-fifty slc...
Ensemble:
You ain't what you're not
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
A big ol' red one!
Ensemble:
So see what you got
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
With some golf clubs stickin' out de trunk!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I'm gwine down to de links on Saturday mornin'!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Gimme a five dollar bill!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
And an overcoat too...
Ensemble:
An' that's all it is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Where's my waitress, yeahhhh!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Robbie, take me to greek town!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I'm harder than yer husband; harder than yer husband!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I'm goin' down to white street, to the mudd club, y'all!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I'm goin' down 'n work the wall! 'n work the floor
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
'n work the pipe, 'n work the wall some more!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it is
Steve vai (guitar)
Ray white (guitar, vocals)
Tommy mars (keyboards)
Chuck wild (piano)
Arthur barrow (bass)
Scott thunes (bass)
Jay anderson (string bass)
Ed mann (percussion)
Chad wackerman (drums)
Ike willis (vocals)
Terry bozzio (vocals)
Dale bozzio (vocals)
Napoleon murphy brock (vocals)
Bob harris (vocals)
Johnny "guitar" watson (vocals)
Ensemble: (displaying dummy #1)
Do you know what you are?
Thing-fish:
Dat what I ast ya!
Ensemble:
You are what you is you is what you am
Thing-fish:
And dat de trufe!
Ensemble:
(a cow don't make ham...)
Thing-fish:
I meant dat now!
Ensemble:
You ain't what you're not
Thing-fish:
Not even hardly...
Ensemble:
So see what you got
Thing-fish:
And you got a lot o' lookin' t'do, junior!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Thing-fish:
Dat entirely too correct!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it 'tis!
Thing-fish:
Uh-huhhhh!
Ensemble:
A foolish young man
Thing-fish:
Bring dat dummy ovuh heah 'n show it to 'em!
Ensemble:
Stashed away in san quentim ate de mys'try potatoes
Thing-fish:
Told ya 'bout dem 'taters!
Ensemble:
Evil prince was inventin' now he talk like de thing-fish
Thing-fish: (manipulating the dummy)
("hmmmm, saffiiiee!")
Ensemble:
An' he look like a mammy!
Thing-fish: (manipulating the dummy)
("see de mammy, now! see de mammy, now!")
Ensemble:
His fav'rit co-log-numm...
Thing-fish:
Smell like...
Sister potato head bobby brown, sister ghenghis adonis osmosis, sister jasmine noxema tapioca:
Chitlins!
Ensemble:
Is de one dey call 'sammy'!
Thing-fish:
One-adam-twelve...see de mammy...
Ensemble:
He finally layin'
Thing-fish:
Armed 'n dangerous, reproach wit cautium!
Ensemble:
De whole thang down, 'cept de nivea lotium!
Thing-fish:
Rub it on good, now!
Ensemble:
An de royal crown!
Thing-fish:
Take good care o' dat "ash"!
Ensemble:
Do you know what you are?
Thing-fish:
You's a wimp...she's a shrew!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Thing-fish:
Got dat?
Ensemble:
You is what you am
Thing-fish:
One-adam-twelve, see de mammy agin'!
Ensemble:
(a cow don't make ham...)
Thing-fish:
And it never will...
Ensemble:
You ain't what you're not,
Thing-fish:
Unless science do somethin' 'bout it!
Ensemble:
So see what you got!
Thing-fish:
I know dey woikin' on it...
Ensemble:
You are what you is,
Thing-fish:
Underneath virginia!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it 'tis!
Thing-fish:
Boog-boogmmm, dano..."mammy one"! they toss dummy number one into the wings, an d introduce dummy number two to harry & rhonda. their torture-chairs, (on a rolling platform), are wheeled to center
E. the action takes place all around them.
Ensemble: (showing dummy #2)
A foolish young man
Of de negro persuasion
Devoted his life
To become a caucasian
He stopped eating pork
He stopped eating greens
He trade his dashiki
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon: (manipulating the dummy)
("uhuru!")
Ensemble:
For some jordache jeans!
He learned to play golf
An' he got a good score
Now he says to himself:
"I ain't no..."
Thing-fish:
"nignint!"
Ensemble:
No more...hey! hey! hey!"
Thing-fish:
One-adam-twelve, see de "nignint" wit knife... proceed wif cautium...knife may be open...
Ensemble:
Bwana ma-coo-bah
Harry:
All right! let's go!
Ensemble:
Mercedes bainnnzzzzz!
Ensemble:
Who is who?
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon: (singing)
I don't know...
Ensemble:
'n what is what
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Somethin' I just don't know...
Ensemble:
'n why is this
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Tell me now...
Ensemble:
Appropriot
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
That's a funny pronunciation, if'n ever I heard one!
Ensemble:
If you don't like
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Where'd you get that word?
Ensemble:
What you has got
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Appropriot? the word is not!
Ensemble:
Drop it in the dirt
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Drop it, yeah!
Ensemble:
'n let it rot
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I can smell it now!
Ensemble:
Someone else
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Here de come, here de come!
Ensemble:
Will surely come
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I told you he was comin'!
Ensemble:
'n pick it up
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
That's right!
Ensemble:
'cause he wants some
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
An' he wants it for free!
Ensemble:
And when one day
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
There will come a day!
Ensemble:
You wonder who
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I wonder too!
Ensemble:
You used to was
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Who I was, anyway!
Ensemble:
'n what you do
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I used to work at the post office!
Ensemble:
You'll scratch your head
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
But I don't wanna un-do my doo!
Ensemble:
'n look around
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
To see what's goin' on!
Ensemble:
But what you lost
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Can't seem to find it!
Ensemble:
Will not be found
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
A mercedes benz!
Ensemble:
Do you know what you are?
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I know!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I'm the kinda guy...
Ensemble:
You is what you am
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
That ought to be drivin'
Ensemble:
A cow don't make ham
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
A four-fifty slc...
Ensemble:
You ain't what you're not
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
A big ol' red one!
Ensemble:
So see what you got
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
With some golf clubs stickin' out de trunk!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I'm gwine down to de links on Saturday mornin'!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Gimme a five dollar bill!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
And an overcoat too...
Ensemble:
An' that's all it is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Where's my waitress, yeahhhh!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
Robbie, take me to greek town!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I'm harder than yer husband; harder than yer husband!
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I'm goin' down to white street, to the mudd club, y'all!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
I'm goin' down 'n work the wall! 'n work the floor
Ensemble:
You are what you is
Sister owl-gonkwin-jane cow-hoon:
'n work the pipe, 'n work the wall some more!
Ensemble:
An' that's all it is
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
It is about doing the things you are supposed to do, not doing what you cant.