"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.
She shadows me in the mirror
She never leaves on the light
And some things that I say to her
They just don't seem to bite
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
She tricks me into thinkin'
I can't believe my eyes
I wait for her forever
But she never does arrive
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
She says to leave it to me
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
(Be alright)
She says to leave it to me
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
She's always out makin' pictures
She's always out makin' scenes
She's always out the window
When it comes to makin' dreams
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
She says to leave it to me
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
(Be alright)
She says to leave it to me
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
(Be alright)
She says to leave it to me
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
(Be alright)
She says to leave it to me, yeah
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
(Be alright)
If you leave it to me
Everything'll be alright
Yeah, if you leave it to me
(Be alright)
(Be alright)
(Be alright)
(Be alright)
She never leaves on the light
And some things that I say to her
They just don't seem to bite
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
She tricks me into thinkin'
I can't believe my eyes
I wait for her forever
But she never does arrive
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
She says to leave it to me
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
(Be alright)
She says to leave it to me
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
She's always out makin' pictures
She's always out makin' scenes
She's always out the window
When it comes to makin' dreams
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
It's all mixed up
She says to leave it to me
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
(Be alright)
She says to leave it to me
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
(Be alright)
She says to leave it to me
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
(Be alright)
She says to leave it to me, yeah
(Leave it to me)
Everything'll be alright
(Be alright)
If you leave it to me
Everything'll be alright
Yeah, if you leave it to me
(Be alright)
(Be alright)
(Be alright)
(Be alright)
Lyrics submitted by caramelized
All Mixed Up Lyrics as written by Ric Ocasek
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this song is about a particular relationship that Ric had. He was known to date models and I think that the fact that he was a muscian and she was a model, that the relationship faltered. It is hard for two people in show business to make it. One always seems to be doing their own thing which greatly affects the other. Fears that the other might become more popular also weakens a relationship. The lines "she's always out making pictures--she's always out making scenes" surely fits. I think she was so busy with her career that Ric often felt unwanted. This made hi life seem ALL MIXED UP.
the woman in the relationship is socially important, cagey and elusive, unreachable emotionally...yet also reassuring/placating...leave it to me, everything will be all right...
I dated this check in college. I know exactly what he’s talking about. You can’t leave. You can’t win. It makes no sense. It’s all mixed up.
@Jdplus3 I meant “chick” not “check”
Isn't the first line "She shatters me in the mirror"?
@Mickyfinn I thought the first line was "She SADDLES me in the mirror"? LOL
@Mickyfinn no it's always been "She shadows me in the mirror"
My favorite Cars song.
I don't know if the writer intended this, but I always hear it as a man with gender identity issues. He sees himself as a woman.
I've selected My comment type as "My Opinion"... I've made "that" My selection, because when it comes to relationships.. "My Opinion" is nonexistent.. So, I'm quite overjoyed to share My Opinion on this great Cars Classssic & My fave Cars tune.. And Yes, 4 s'es in Classssic!! 1st off, Benjamin Orr does a great job on Vox, giving the song a breath of fresh air & diff' vibe than the constant/norm of Ric's Vox.. This has been My Card fave from the 1st time hearing it.. I was 12yrs old. Now.. and ironically, It's come to Me actually living the lyrics!! I can literally identity from "She never leaves on the light" to the songs very end... Unfortunately. The, "I wait for her forever, but she never does arrive" is such a hard line to hear as Orr delivers it so dead pan flat & emotionally stunned!! Basically there have been many, many, major promises made by Her to Him.. He takes/took EVERYTHING & EVERY WORD to heart and now He, has been left holdin' an empty bag at the proverbial bus stop!! To Me, She is saying: "Trust Me.. I got THIS covered.. And sadly, He puts total faith into Her, and Her Word.. Now in My World, You aint worth a Rat's fk'.. "If" ya' can't keep/back up your word. I was brought up on the notion that your word, basically is, and accounts for your personal worth, so KEEP YOUR WORD, OR KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, DONT MAKE PROMISES YOU CAN'T FULFILL.. Otherwise, when you're making promises that involve the heart and in other important facets of life, and then from outta' the gate you're unaccountable for the most of it.. there is something majorly wrong with you in the way of having long term untreated mental health issues, and or you're just plain fk'n evil and incapable.. So if that's the case in any form or combo platter.. You don't place much value on being trustworthy.. So He, loves & duh' uh' uh'..trusts her, her word.. She just simply blows wind up His ass and FAILS, FAILS MISERABLY, TO COME THROUGH
Ben Orr sang this i believe.I actually preferred his singing to Ric's. though very similar. great tune.
The song is about a relationship with a person that has mental disorder case clised