"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.
What am I?
I wish I was a butterfly I'd fly and fly
Until it was my time to die
It's creeping in again
I know what I really am
No more pretty, purple,
Peaceful butterfly
Simple life
If I were a butterfly
I'd fly and fly
Until it was my time to die
Its creeping in again
I know what I really am
No more pretty, purple,
Peaceful butterfly
Come see the blood that's in my bed
Come hear the things
That nobody talks about
Shut up you mouth
Shame on you shame on me
Look at me
I wish I was a honey bee
Anything, anything other than
The things I have been
I slip out of my skin
So I don't have to do it again
But just a passing thought
And your filth is seeping in
Come scrub my hands
They won't come clean
Come sit with me
While the walls press in on me
Shut off that light
Shame on you. shame on me.
I wish I was a butterfly I'd fly and fly
Until it was my time to die
It's creeping in again
I know what I really am
No more pretty, purple,
Peaceful butterfly
Simple life
If I were a butterfly
I'd fly and fly
Until it was my time to die
Its creeping in again
I know what I really am
No more pretty, purple,
Peaceful butterfly
Come see the blood that's in my bed
Come hear the things
That nobody talks about
Shut up you mouth
Shame on you shame on me
Look at me
I wish I was a honey bee
Anything, anything other than
The things I have been
I slip out of my skin
So I don't have to do it again
But just a passing thought
And your filth is seeping in
Come scrub my hands
They won't come clean
Come sit with me
While the walls press in on me
Shut off that light
Shame on you. shame on me.
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
This song is about incest.
-I wish I was a butterfly. I'd fly and fly until it was my time to die.-
This is your classic need for escape, wanting to break away from the pain.
-It's creeping in again, I know what I really am.-
She's filled with quite a bit of rage, feels much like a monster.
-Simple life if I were a butterfly.-
She's thinking if she were a butterfly, she would have never been abused. Like a lot of victims, they have this thought that if they were handed a different life, the abuse wouldn't have happened.
-Come see the blood that's in my bed. Come hear the things that nobody talks about. Shut up you mouth. Shame on you Shame on me.-
That right there says quite a bit. She's talking about blood in her bed, things that happened there that should never be talked about. I think that's something her mother said or at least made her feel. And like it says...shut your mouth, her mother is telling her to keep quiet.
Yep, let's add the shame while we're at it because you'll see that a lot in victims as well. Shame on you, shame on me-she's basically telling her mother, shame on you for allowing this to happen. Shame on me too for allowing this to happen.
-Look at me, I wish I was a honey bee. Anything, anything other than the things I have been. I slip out of my skin so I don't have to do it again, but just a passing thought, and your filth is seeping in-
She wants to be anything but what she is, which is a victim. She slips out of her skin, which means she escapes as the abuse happens. So I don't have to do it again...there she's telling you that she's escaping so that she doesn't have to face the current reality again, but then when she says just a passing thought and your filth is seeping in...she's brought back to reality rather quickly because sometimes escaping is quite impossible. When she says your filth, I think it's obvious what she's saying.
-Come scrub my hands, they won't come clean.-
That is her feeling guilty, as if it was her fault.