"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.
Cover me in fire
Drop me down to the deepest darkest ocean
So I never have to feel that way again
Colour on the carpet seven eyes on the ceiling
There's a feeling that comes over you
When you know that
Something has changed forever
Don't lose your wings 'til you learn
How to sing yourself to sleep
I know it seems funny but
Maybe we just said goodbye
I feel strange enough to cry
Strawberry marigold smile
Please don't bring me down
With that look on your face
Because I almost didn't make it and one day
You might know how that feels
I heard the mermaids singing once
When I was very small
But now the sound of the traffic and human voices
Wake us 'til we drown
Don't lose your wings 'til you learn
How to sing yourself to sleep
I know it seems funny but
Maybe we just said goodbye
I feel strange enough to cry
Strawberry marigold smile
Seven angels seven plagues
And the trumpet and the saved
I tell you man if it was me on that beast
I would not let you fuck with me like that
It's dangerous to see beyond
The visions that we breathe
But I can hold it in my hand and know
That there is something to this that will never die
Don't lose your wings 'til you learn
How to sing yourself to sleep
I know it seems funny but
Maybe we just said goodbye
I feel strange enough to cry
Strawberry marigold smile
Strawberry marigold smile
Strawberry marigold smile
Drop me down to the deepest darkest ocean
So I never have to feel that way again
Colour on the carpet seven eyes on the ceiling
There's a feeling that comes over you
When you know that
Something has changed forever
Don't lose your wings 'til you learn
How to sing yourself to sleep
I know it seems funny but
Maybe we just said goodbye
I feel strange enough to cry
Strawberry marigold smile
Please don't bring me down
With that look on your face
Because I almost didn't make it and one day
You might know how that feels
I heard the mermaids singing once
When I was very small
But now the sound of the traffic and human voices
Wake us 'til we drown
Don't lose your wings 'til you learn
How to sing yourself to sleep
I know it seems funny but
Maybe we just said goodbye
I feel strange enough to cry
Strawberry marigold smile
Seven angels seven plagues
And the trumpet and the saved
I tell you man if it was me on that beast
I would not let you fuck with me like that
It's dangerous to see beyond
The visions that we breathe
But I can hold it in my hand and know
That there is something to this that will never die
Don't lose your wings 'til you learn
How to sing yourself to sleep
I know it seems funny but
Maybe we just said goodbye
I feel strange enough to cry
Strawberry marigold smile
Strawberry marigold smile
Strawberry marigold smile
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Bee Gees
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
LOVE this song
my favorite part would have to be
It's dangerous to see beyond The visions that we breathe But I can hold it in my hand and know That there is something to this that will never die
I somehow live by that line. Amazing
This is a beautiful song. I love "Don't lose your wings / Til you learn how to sing yourself to sleep". It's such a cryptic yet emotional song. I love it!