"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.
I wake up late for school and I run like hell to try and catch the bus
never thought about it but those days meant more than I thought they would.
Hanging out late with my friends, having fun like punks will do.
I never thought those days would ever end so soon.
But time goes by and all your views on life, they start to change.
When you see the world for what it is, it never looks the same.
You walk around with a chip on your shoulder.
Cause everyday you know you're just getting older.
(pre-chorus)
I never thought it would be
it's just a way of life
I never though it would be
such a petty life
I wake up late for work and I drive like hell
trying to make ends meat.
Gotta borrow money cause my baby don't have shit to eat.
Staying up late, got two jobs, work my fingers to the bone.
Spending more time at those jobs than I ever spend at home.
And I can't help but feel the stress, all my bills keep adding up.
Its days like this, wish I was a kid, because I?ve had enough.
Look in the mirror; see my face getting older
cause everyday I see feel the world getting colder.
(chorus)
I never thought it would be
it's just a way of life
I never thought it would be
such a petty life
all of my memories keep coming back again
all my securities I?ll never have again
wanting so much to be, to be myself again
give it all back to me
I want it back
(bridge)
bring it back
bring it back to me
the innocence I felt
the happiness I felt
no matter what the cost
and everything I?ve lost
(repeat chorus)
it's how I live my life, so fuck you,
get the fuck off my back
never thought about it but those days meant more than I thought they would.
Hanging out late with my friends, having fun like punks will do.
I never thought those days would ever end so soon.
But time goes by and all your views on life, they start to change.
When you see the world for what it is, it never looks the same.
You walk around with a chip on your shoulder.
Cause everyday you know you're just getting older.
(pre-chorus)
I never thought it would be
it's just a way of life
I never though it would be
such a petty life
I wake up late for work and I drive like hell
trying to make ends meat.
Gotta borrow money cause my baby don't have shit to eat.
Staying up late, got two jobs, work my fingers to the bone.
Spending more time at those jobs than I ever spend at home.
And I can't help but feel the stress, all my bills keep adding up.
Its days like this, wish I was a kid, because I?ve had enough.
Look in the mirror; see my face getting older
cause everyday I see feel the world getting colder.
(chorus)
I never thought it would be
it's just a way of life
I never thought it would be
such a petty life
all of my memories keep coming back again
all my securities I?ll never have again
wanting so much to be, to be myself again
give it all back to me
I want it back
(bridge)
bring it back
bring it back to me
the innocence I felt
the happiness I felt
no matter what the cost
and everything I?ve lost
(repeat chorus)
it's how I live my life, so fuck you,
get the fuck off my back
Lyrics submitted by HoldURBreath
Tricycle Lyrics as written by Jason Luttrell Bobby Burns
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
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/
This song is about living your life to its fullest because life moves real fast