"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.
Today, everything was fine, fine, fine
Until 'round about, quarter to nine
Suddenly found myself in a bind, a bind
Was it something I said?
Something I read and manifested that's getting you down
Don't you dare come to bed with that ambiguous look in your eye
I'd sooner sleep by an open fire and wake up fried
Say what you will
Say what you mean
No, you could never offend
Your dirty words come out clean, clean
Tomorrow, what price will I pay?
Could I make it all up to you by serving coffee for two in bed?
Would you then give me the time of day?
I need a map of your head translated into English
So I can learn not to make you frown
You'd feel better if you'd vent
Put your frustrations into four letter words
And let them out on mine
The most weathered ears in town
So say what you will
Say what you mean
No, you could never offend
Your dirty words come out clean
Clean, clean
Clean, clean
Clean, clean
Say what you will
Say what you mean
No, you could never offend
Your dirty words come out clean
Say what you will
Say what you mean
No, you could never offend
Your dirty words come out clean, clean
Until 'round about, quarter to nine
Suddenly found myself in a bind, a bind
Was it something I said?
Something I read and manifested that's getting you down
Don't you dare come to bed with that ambiguous look in your eye
I'd sooner sleep by an open fire and wake up fried
Say what you will
Say what you mean
No, you could never offend
Your dirty words come out clean, clean
Tomorrow, what price will I pay?
Could I make it all up to you by serving coffee for two in bed?
Would you then give me the time of day?
I need a map of your head translated into English
So I can learn not to make you frown
You'd feel better if you'd vent
Put your frustrations into four letter words
And let them out on mine
The most weathered ears in town
So say what you will
Say what you mean
No, you could never offend
Your dirty words come out clean
Clean, clean
Clean, clean
Clean, clean
Say what you will
Say what you mean
No, you could never offend
Your dirty words come out clean
Say what you will
Say what you mean
No, you could never offend
Your dirty words come out clean, clean
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
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”
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.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
well, not all songs are written by Brandon.