"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.
She's on a beach in Maui her breasts are half uncovered
I try to stop myself from staring at her butt I'm drawn like Dagwood to sleep
The lawn may need mowing but still I can't prevent my thoughts
From becoming obscene so I justify, she's only a page in a magazine
She's not real, she doesn't feel.
Eyes pierce her scraps of cloth.
Her value is lost
Crown of all creation, bane of jealous angels
She's nothing more to me than food for a fantasy
And though I know it's a shame, I won't turn away
My thoughts are so casually lead astray
And I know it's not right it feels so unclean
But she's just a page in a magazine
She's not real, she doesn't feel.
Eyes pierce her scraps of cloth. Her value is lost
49er, gold prospector.
Her body is my claim
As she assumes some cheesy pose, imagination see's no close
And I don't even know her name
Her body breaks my minds leash like Gus broke his chain
I try to stop myself from staring at her butt I'm drawn like Dagwood to sleep
The lawn may need mowing but still I can't prevent my thoughts
From becoming obscene so I justify, she's only a page in a magazine
She's not real, she doesn't feel.
Eyes pierce her scraps of cloth.
Her value is lost
Crown of all creation, bane of jealous angels
She's nothing more to me than food for a fantasy
And though I know it's a shame, I won't turn away
My thoughts are so casually lead astray
And I know it's not right it feels so unclean
But she's just a page in a magazine
She's not real, she doesn't feel.
Eyes pierce her scraps of cloth. Her value is lost
49er, gold prospector.
Her body is my claim
As she assumes some cheesy pose, imagination see's no close
And I don't even know her name
Her body breaks my minds leash like Gus broke his chain
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
This song is actually entitled "Going Blind" and was originally called "Gus" on the band's demo. It deals with the stuggle of lust in general, and how it devalues it's object in the eyes of the beholder. (Hence the title's illusive reference to masturbation ;-) )
Pretty daring lyrics for an outwardly Christian band... Sort of like the Christian equivalent of Fenix TX's "Phoebe Cates"
cb arent exactly OUTWARDLY christian.. but nehu thats why Craigs Brother r so good, as well as in Insult 2 Injury, they believe that christianity isnt about being polite or doing "wats right" but its about knowing ones imperfections and loving and thanking god
but.. who is Gus?