"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.
There's a letter at my momma's house,
came with a floded flag.
It says Right now, I'm coming home in a body bag.
It's a pride and a pain
that are one and the same.
It's a burning cigarette,
it's a horrible dream.
There's a man in an office who's going through files
and a woman who watches TV.
And she doesn't get the jokes told be late night talk show hosts,
but for some reason she laughs anyway.
There's this soap in my bathroom, and it's all covered in a hairs.
There's this hope in my brain, and it's all covered in prayers.
There's a girl in this town who doesn't know I exist.
There's a wounded sense of pride and a pain in my fist.
There's 12 empty bottles on this table tonight.
There's 4 lungs on fire and 4 burning eyes.
And something will explode, and someone will cry.
And someone will run out and never turn around.
There's a park in this city where I used to go,
but now it's covered with fences and cops and lightposts.
And I'd never go back if anything was the same,
but it kills me to know that it's changed.
There's these kids who have dreams.
There's these dreams that will grow.
Until they get so goddamn big that they explode.
And what's left in the smoke and the falling debris
is grownups like them and losers like me.
And what's left in the smoke and the falling debris
is grownups like them and losers like me.
it's grownups like them and losers like me
it's grownups like them and losers like me
Yeah.
Tonight let's go walking down Clark Street
and look at the new buildings that we've never seen.
We'll stop at the bar and pass out on the floor
Tomorrow we'll forget everything
and we'll replay these days again.
came with a floded flag.
It says Right now, I'm coming home in a body bag.
It's a pride and a pain
that are one and the same.
It's a burning cigarette,
it's a horrible dream.
There's a man in an office who's going through files
and a woman who watches TV.
And she doesn't get the jokes told be late night talk show hosts,
but for some reason she laughs anyway.
There's this soap in my bathroom, and it's all covered in a hairs.
There's this hope in my brain, and it's all covered in prayers.
There's a girl in this town who doesn't know I exist.
There's a wounded sense of pride and a pain in my fist.
There's 12 empty bottles on this table tonight.
There's 4 lungs on fire and 4 burning eyes.
And something will explode, and someone will cry.
And someone will run out and never turn around.
There's a park in this city where I used to go,
but now it's covered with fences and cops and lightposts.
And I'd never go back if anything was the same,
but it kills me to know that it's changed.
There's these kids who have dreams.
There's these dreams that will grow.
Until they get so goddamn big that they explode.
And what's left in the smoke and the falling debris
is grownups like them and losers like me.
And what's left in the smoke and the falling debris
is grownups like them and losers like me.
it's grownups like them and losers like me
it's grownups like them and losers like me
Yeah.
Tonight let's go walking down Clark Street
and look at the new buildings that we've never seen.
We'll stop at the bar and pass out on the floor
Tomorrow we'll forget everything
and we'll replay these days again.
Lyrics submitted by Jemma
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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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 rocks.