"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.
Now it's time to say good night
Good night sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me (dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you
Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night sleep tight
Now the moon begins to shine
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me (dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you
Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me (dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you
Good night
Good night everybody
Everybody, everywhere
Good night
Good night sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me (dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you
Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night sleep tight
Now the moon begins to shine
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me (dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you
Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me (dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you
Good night
Good night everybody
Everybody, everywhere
Good night
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
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,
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Cool song, so good night everybody! :)
this song is created by john lennon for his beloved son julian. he was sing this song when julian go to sleep
Doesn't surprise me, look at the origin of Hey Jude. Though it'd have been hard getting the orchestra into the room...
The lyrics are simple and innocent of any subtext that says it's anything but a lullaby.
Looking further, it is the Beatles consoling the listeners, after the chaos and oblivion of Revolution 9, and the cultural mayhem it suggests (of the whole wildness of the White Album, really), with this overtly hopeful (and rather mawkish) gesture that things are indeed, at least temporarily, just peachy. For all of you who are upset about what just happened, here you go, take it easy, it's all good! It's almost cynical about what they predict will be the fallout of putting something like Revolution 9 on a Beatles record. I think part of them is laughing at a lot of the listener base that they know are a little less open to new musical and artistic concepts.
Personally, I have always experienced this piece in an additional way. The combination of the overtly sentimental arrangement and Ringo's dirgelike voice make for something that crosses over into creepy territory and makes me think not just of death, but of suicide. Possibly even a suicide pact! I know this is just my personal stretch on a meaning. I'm waiting, however, for someone to use this song in film to backdrop effectively and eerily some scene of suicide or death.
...perfect song...amazingly john's contribution...i don't try and get into the meaning of this too much...its just john's farewell to the dream...(although on plastic ono he'd give you the revelation)...wdc
There is no meaning to it, it's simply meant as a lullaby... and, from the limited notes I can remember on the subject, it's Ringo who sings it. Indeed, The Plastic Ono Band is the true revelation of the dream set by the farewell of this song.
Who's to say that there's no meaning in it? Did you write it Bobo192? I'm not meaning offense, but I'd have to say that any song I've ever heard has some sort of meaning... whether I agree with it or not, without meaning, there would be no song. Being that Lennon and McCartney are also two of the most acclaimed musical visionaries of our time, I think it has lots of meaning.
True, I'm sorry. I'm just takin' information from stuff I've read. I was in essence agreeing with venus that that there isn't much to read within John's revelation.
Smilin', as always
Great song...puts me in a spooky, calm mood. Lennon did a wonderful job on this, and he did right by letting Ringo sing it.
I love to going to sleep to this song! It is ridiculously peaceful! I've got no energy today.
Sounds very Disneyesque. Coming straight after Revolution 9 I think it is just a bit of humour