"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.
Down in Santa Rosa over the Bay
Across the grapevine to LA
We've got deserts, we've got trees
We've got the hills of Beverly
Let's burn the hills of Beverly
Walk with your credit card in the air
Swingin' nunchakus like you just don't care
This is the slow, sick, sucking part of me
This is the slow, sick, sucking part of me
And when I suck your kisses, it's ours
Up to the top of the Shasta Gulch
And to the bottom of the Tahoe Lake
Manmade deltas and concrete rivers
The south takes what the north delivers
You film hack, I don't use your fade
Lost in the foothills on my bike
Drinking Euro, say goodnight
To the last psychedelic band
From Sacto, Northern Cal
From Sacto, Northern Cal
Take it, neighbor, you're my neighbor
And I need favors, you're my neighbor
You've done me favors 'cause I'm your neighbor
I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash
Across the grapevine to LA
We've got deserts, we've got trees
We've got the hills of Beverly
Let's burn the hills of Beverly
Walk with your credit card in the air
Swingin' nunchakus like you just don't care
This is the slow, sick, sucking part of me
This is the slow, sick, sucking part of me
And when I suck your kisses, it's ours
Up to the top of the Shasta Gulch
And to the bottom of the Tahoe Lake
Manmade deltas and concrete rivers
The south takes what the north delivers
You film hack, I don't use your fade
Lost in the foothills on my bike
Drinking Euro, say goodnight
To the last psychedelic band
From Sacto, Northern Cal
From Sacto, Northern Cal
Take it, neighbor, you're my neighbor
And I need favors, you're my neighbor
You've done me favors 'cause I'm your neighbor
I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash
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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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Ah, probably the greatest Pavement song to sing while drunk. I remember seeing the band live at club Graffiti in Pittsburgh my freshman year, and the whole crowd goes, "--let's burn the hils of BeverLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"
like Flux=Rad said, its about the divide of the state of California. SM said himself, and it makes sense. just a playfull (and awesome) take on it. With the North being rich and the South not (or the other way around- I dont know- Im from New york). Great though
About North and south divides.
The line is "Swing it nine times like you just don't care" if anyone cares to correct it.
I guess this song is about water rights in California? unusual but it's pavement so it works. Damn good song.
Aw man, I always thought it was "lost in the foothills of my pride" and I always loved that line. Then I saw the real lyrics.
well, it might actually be that, these lyrics are not 100% right (swinging nunchucks? i dont think so) also on other websites, the lyrics are listed differently ex: foothills of my mind. so theres no way of knowing for sure
Wooohhhh! NorCal hella rules!
A beautiful, drunken screaming ode to NorCal, meant to be shouted out of the sunroof while speeding through the Delta on a cool, summer evening. Lyric correction? - "To the last psychedellic band, from Stockton, Northern Cal, South of Sacto, Northern Cal" is the way I have always heard it. Pavement is from Stockton, after all, not Sacto (Sacramento).
California sure is a great state, huh?
I love angry pointed songs. Whether this song is meant as an anthem for NoCal or is just malk being tongue-in-cheek with yet another pop-tart theme, doesn't matter to me. Regardless, it is sung with the proper indiginant and sel-righteous tone SM is famous for. Party on Garth.!