"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.
These days, with the world getting colder,
She spends more time sleeping over
Than I planned.
Tonight we're gonna order in,
Drinking wine and watchin' CNN.
It's dark I know, but then again
It's the brightest thing I got
'Cause I'm covered in rain
No, I'm covered in rain, rain, rain, rain
Fireworks to fireplaces
Summer stole what fall replaces
We're people watching, all the people watching, everybody watching me
Standing by the missing signs at the CVS by the checkout line
She puts her quiet hands in mine
'Cause she's the brightest thing I got
When I'm covered in rain
'Cause I'm covered in rain, rain, rain, rain
'Cause I'm covered in rain
No I'm covered in rain
It's alright
If you don't want to, go on
It's alright
If you don't want to, be alone
Oh It's alright
If you don't want to, want to, want to, go home
I understand, I understand, I understand,
You and me and everyone
I'm covered in rain
No, I'm covered in rain
No, I'm covered in rain, rain, rain, rain
I'm covered in, covered in, covered in rain
She spends more time sleeping over
Than I planned.
Tonight we're gonna order in,
Drinking wine and watchin' CNN.
It's dark I know, but then again
It's the brightest thing I got
'Cause I'm covered in rain
No, I'm covered in rain, rain, rain, rain
Fireworks to fireplaces
Summer stole what fall replaces
We're people watching, all the people watching, everybody watching me
Standing by the missing signs at the CVS by the checkout line
She puts her quiet hands in mine
'Cause she's the brightest thing I got
When I'm covered in rain
'Cause I'm covered in rain, rain, rain, rain
'Cause I'm covered in rain
No I'm covered in rain
It's alright
If you don't want to, go on
It's alright
If you don't want to, be alone
Oh It's alright
If you don't want to, want to, want to, go home
I understand, I understand, I understand,
You and me and everyone
I'm covered in rain
No, I'm covered in rain
No, I'm covered in rain, rain, rain, rain
I'm covered in, covered in, covered in rain
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
These days with the world getting colder She spends more time sleeping over Than I'd planned
Tonight were gonna order in Drinking wine and watching CNN It's dark I know but then again It's the brightest thing I got
When I'm covered in rain, rain When I'm covered in rain, rain
From fireworks to fireplaces Summer stole what fall replaces And now we're people watching All the people, people watching us right now Standing by the missing signs at the CVS by the checkout line She puts her quiet hands in mine Cause shes the brightest thing I got
When I'm covered in rain, rain When I'm covered in rain, rain, rain, rain Oh, I'm covered in rain Oh, I'm covered in rain Oh, I'm covered in rain
Come December, Lydia left She mentioned something about it being for the best And I can't say I disagree It's killing me Now we're standing facing west Tracing my fingers 'round her silhouette I haven't gotten used to it yet But it's the brightest thing I've got
When I'm covered in rain, rain
Those are the correct lyrics for the Any Given Thursday version.