"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.
Her name was Julie
When she took me on a ride in her old Chevrolet
Straight into a dusty sundown
I knew she was gonna make up one of her stories
And then she couldn't believe that I told her
How much I love her lies and how much I love her games
Riding on the highway
You're going much too far
You're lying so much better
When you drive a car
You're lying 'til the sundown
So look into my face
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying
I love your games
I love your lies
I love your games
Look in my eyes
Don't believe I'm worried
When you're playing all these games
I love your lies just hold me tight
I got no one to blame
You're lying, I'm buying
I'm buying every word
I love your lies
I love your games
Take me to the ballroom
We're dancing through the night
I'm in your arms, I love your lies
They make me feel so light
You're lying to your shadow
So look into my face
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying
Julie stopped her car
The sun had gone and left one of these dark red skies
She looked in my eyes and with a smile in her face she said
"Of Course I'm Lying.
But I think I love you."
Take me on the highway
You're going much too far
You're lying even better
When you drive a car
You're lying 'til the sundown
So look into my face
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying
I love your games
I love your lies
I love your games
Look in my eyes
Take me in your arms and hold me tight just for tonight
I need no drugs I love your lies
You hide me from the night
You're lying, I'm buying
I'm buying every word
I love your lies
I love your games
When she took me on a ride in her old Chevrolet
Straight into a dusty sundown
I knew she was gonna make up one of her stories
And then she couldn't believe that I told her
How much I love her lies and how much I love her games
Riding on the highway
You're going much too far
You're lying so much better
When you drive a car
You're lying 'til the sundown
So look into my face
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying
I love your games
I love your lies
I love your games
Look in my eyes
Don't believe I'm worried
When you're playing all these games
I love your lies just hold me tight
I got no one to blame
You're lying, I'm buying
I'm buying every word
I love your lies
I love your games
Take me to the ballroom
We're dancing through the night
I'm in your arms, I love your lies
They make me feel so light
You're lying to your shadow
So look into my face
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying
Julie stopped her car
The sun had gone and left one of these dark red skies
She looked in my eyes and with a smile in her face she said
"Of Course I'm Lying.
But I think I love you."
Take me on the highway
You're going much too far
You're lying even better
When you drive a car
You're lying 'til the sundown
So look into my face
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying (I love it)
You're lying
I love your games
I love your lies
I love your games
Look in my eyes
Take me in your arms and hold me tight just for tonight
I need no drugs I love your lies
You hide me from the night
You're lying, I'm buying
I'm buying every word
I love your lies
I love your games
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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,
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.
Kind of an obscure song by a band that is really only known for one song and it wasn't this one. I have always loved this song and wish it had gotten more attention.
I feel like he's describing a paid escort/prostitute. She's playing a part, a role, giving him the girlfriend experience. These are the lies that she tells. After a while, after meeting up with her a couple times, he doesn't care that it's not a "real" romance. For him it is, he loves her lies.