"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.
This time you got it all figured out.
Think it's gonna work okay but I'll make sure it won't cause I'll be standing in your way.
So wait a minute if you will.
I ain't got no time but time to kill.
When the ground starts getting hot it doesn't matter if you run or not.
This time you've seen it done before.
This time your gonna get it right.
Once more you fail miserably and then, then you do it all over again.
So wait a minute if you will.
I ain't got no time but time to kill.
When the ground starts getting hot it doesn't matter if you run or not.
You're once a failure twice a fool.
I will - Knock knock.
If you won't - Knock knock.
You're damned - Knock knock.
If you don't - Knock knock.
You did fine - Knock knock.
Now you're mine - Knock knock.
You avoided everything except for me.
I'm busting in won't pick the lock I'm busting in - Knock knock.
I've seen your sort before.
You are nothing new cause my name is failure and failure is gonna come to you.
Save me lord and I will.
This time I got the time to kill.
When the ground starts getting hot it doesn't matter if you run or not.
You're once a failure twice a fool.
I will - Knock knock.
If you won't - Knock knock.
You're damned - Knock knock.
If you don't - Knock knock.
You did fine - Knock knock.
Now you're mine - Knock knock.
You avoided everything except for me.
I'm busting in won't pick the lock I'm busting in - Knock knock I'm busting in - Knock knock.
Knock Knock In knock knock.
Think it's gonna work okay but I'll make sure it won't cause I'll be standing in your way.
So wait a minute if you will.
I ain't got no time but time to kill.
When the ground starts getting hot it doesn't matter if you run or not.
This time you've seen it done before.
This time your gonna get it right.
Once more you fail miserably and then, then you do it all over again.
So wait a minute if you will.
I ain't got no time but time to kill.
When the ground starts getting hot it doesn't matter if you run or not.
You're once a failure twice a fool.
I will - Knock knock.
If you won't - Knock knock.
You're damned - Knock knock.
If you don't - Knock knock.
You did fine - Knock knock.
Now you're mine - Knock knock.
You avoided everything except for me.
I'm busting in won't pick the lock I'm busting in - Knock knock.
I've seen your sort before.
You are nothing new cause my name is failure and failure is gonna come to you.
Save me lord and I will.
This time I got the time to kill.
When the ground starts getting hot it doesn't matter if you run or not.
You're once a failure twice a fool.
I will - Knock knock.
If you won't - Knock knock.
You're damned - Knock knock.
If you don't - Knock knock.
You did fine - Knock knock.
Now you're mine - Knock knock.
You avoided everything except for me.
I'm busting in won't pick the lock I'm busting in - Knock knock I'm busting in - Knock knock.
Knock Knock In knock knock.
Lyrics submitted by harmonicApparition
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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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,
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.
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.
i have no idea what this song is going on about but jeez is it good to sing along too
HELL YEA! did anyone see them perfrom at the VMA's? They totally rocked the place! Thats pretty much the only reason i watched the VMA's.....any i wanted to see The White Stripes win. :)
this one gets me really pumped!!
When I heard this song the first time way way back i thought of .... VENGEANCE!!!
Like, you will fail or i'll make you if you don't ... and you KNOW I'm watching!
I believe Howlin' Pelle is supposed to just be failure personified in this song. He's out to make sure that the (unnamed) subject doesn't succeed at his/her (unnamed) goal. Very powerful song, and it can mean a variety of things to the listener, so it hits home in a number of situations.