"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.
You remind me of a firework, boy
You touch the ceiling, you touch the floor
You sparkle and burn but you take your time
And I bet I could carry you across state lines
I'd tell you why, but I don't know
It's simple and so complicated
I could walk all day on the railroad track
But there's much more to it than that
You know all of my secret ideas
The ones I'm giving up on and the ones I'll keep
And everybody sees a funny look in our eyes
'Cause we know that we already won the sweepstakes prize
I'd tell you why, but I don't know
It's simple and so complicated
I could walk all day on the railroad track
But there's much more to it than that
I ask you if you ever think that maybe
It's what's inside of us that drives us crazy
Fingers feeling underneath your skin
There's blood and bones and some rivers to fall in
I'd tell you why, but I don't know
It's simple and so complicated
I could walk all day on the railroad track
But there's much more to it than that
I'm so lucky because I asked you once
"What are you doing? Do you want to come up
For a cup of tea? Come visit with me
We'll play guitars and I'll give you my number"
I'd tell you why, but I don't know
It's simple and so complicated
I could walk all day on the railroad track
But there's much more to it than that
I'd tell you why, but I don't know
It's simple and so complicated
I could walk all day on the railroad track
But there's much more to it than that
You touch the ceiling, you touch the floor
You sparkle and burn but you take your time
And I bet I could carry you across state lines
I'd tell you why, but I don't know
It's simple and so complicated
I could walk all day on the railroad track
But there's much more to it than that
You know all of my secret ideas
The ones I'm giving up on and the ones I'll keep
And everybody sees a funny look in our eyes
'Cause we know that we already won the sweepstakes prize
I'd tell you why, but I don't know
It's simple and so complicated
I could walk all day on the railroad track
But there's much more to it than that
I ask you if you ever think that maybe
It's what's inside of us that drives us crazy
Fingers feeling underneath your skin
There's blood and bones and some rivers to fall in
I'd tell you why, but I don't know
It's simple and so complicated
I could walk all day on the railroad track
But there's much more to it than that
I'm so lucky because I asked you once
"What are you doing? Do you want to come up
For a cup of tea? Come visit with me
We'll play guitars and I'll give you my number"
I'd tell you why, but I don't know
It's simple and so complicated
I could walk all day on the railroad track
But there's much more to it than that
I'd tell you why, but I don't know
It's simple and so complicated
I could walk all day on the railroad track
But there's much more to it than that
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.
i think "come and visit with me and then i'll give you my number " is "come and visit with me play guitars and then i'll give you my number" (?)