"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.
My pants are off right now
Do you wanna know what I think of you?
'Cause you're not the way I thought you should be
Do take back what you said
It's time to fix, it's time to fix your head
And now all alone, one's less than two
I've never been better off living lonely
To listen to what you say
I couldn't care less of what you say
What did you think of me acting this way?
I guess you never really thought at all
Is that what you call your brain?
Is that why I call you hang up on me?
I wanted to know, I didn't want to lose
And now I'm a man who's just living small
Listen to what you say
I couldn't care less of what you say
To me as I walk alone I'd
Much rather be riding prone than
To be just another one you're lame to
I wanted to know, I didn't want to lose
But now I'm a man who's just living small
To listen to what you say
I couldn't care less of what you say
To me as I tune you out of my mind
Won't bend over backwards or take another step there to
Hear from you again
Don't talk to me as I walk alone, I'd
Much rather be riding prone than
To be just another one you're lame to
Don't talk to me as I tune you out of my mind
I won't bend over backwards or take another step there to
Hear from you again
Don't talk to me as I walk alone, I'd
Much rather be riding prone than
To be just another one you're lame to
Do you wanna know what I think of you?
'Cause you're not the way I thought you should be
Do take back what you said
It's time to fix, it's time to fix your head
And now all alone, one's less than two
I've never been better off living lonely
To listen to what you say
I couldn't care less of what you say
What did you think of me acting this way?
I guess you never really thought at all
Is that what you call your brain?
Is that why I call you hang up on me?
I wanted to know, I didn't want to lose
And now I'm a man who's just living small
Listen to what you say
I couldn't care less of what you say
To me as I walk alone I'd
Much rather be riding prone than
To be just another one you're lame to
I wanted to know, I didn't want to lose
But now I'm a man who's just living small
To listen to what you say
I couldn't care less of what you say
To me as I tune you out of my mind
Won't bend over backwards or take another step there to
Hear from you again
Don't talk to me as I walk alone, I'd
Much rather be riding prone than
To be just another one you're lame to
Don't talk to me as I tune you out of my mind
I won't bend over backwards or take another step there to
Hear from you again
Don't talk to me as I walk alone, I'd
Much rather be riding prone than
To be just another one you're lame to
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I may be wrong but I think this song was written before glycerine.