"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 know they say if you love somebody you should set them free
But it sure is hard to do
It sure is hard to do
I know they say if they don't come back again then it's meant to be
Those words ain't pulling me through
'Cause I'm still I love with you
I spend each day here waiting for a miracle
But it's just you and me going through the mill climbing up a hill
Chorus
This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry
Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye
Sometimes I ask my heart did we really give our love a chance
I know without a doubt
That we turned it inside out
And if we walked away it would make more sense
But it tears me up inside
Just to think we still could try
How long must we keep running on this carousel
Going round and round and never getting anywhere on a wing and prayer
This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry
Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye
This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry
Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye
The long goodbye
The long goodbye
This is the long goodbye
But it sure is hard to do
It sure is hard to do
I know they say if they don't come back again then it's meant to be
Those words ain't pulling me through
'Cause I'm still I love with you
I spend each day here waiting for a miracle
But it's just you and me going through the mill climbing up a hill
Chorus
This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry
Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye
Sometimes I ask my heart did we really give our love a chance
I know without a doubt
That we turned it inside out
And if we walked away it would make more sense
But it tears me up inside
Just to think we still could try
How long must we keep running on this carousel
Going round and round and never getting anywhere on a wing and prayer
This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry
Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye
This is the long goodbye
Somebody tell me why
Two lovers in love can't make it
Just what kind of love keeps breaking a heart
No matter how hard I try
You're gonna make me cry
Come on baby it's over let's face it
All that's happening here is a long goodbye
The long goodbye
The long goodbye
This is the long goodbye
Lyrics submitted by violetzebras
The Long Goodbye Lyrics as written by Ronan Keating Paul Joseph Gerald Mary Brady
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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/
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.
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.
This song was written by Ronan Keating and Paul Brady and is one of Ronan's favorite songs to perform in concert. It was recently recorded by US country duo Brooks and Dunn and was a hit on the country chart. I personally prefer Ronan's own version.