"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.
Yo, I was a fiend before I became a teen
I melted microphone instead of cones of ice cream
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
Shot grabbed the mic and try to say, " Yes y'all!"
They tried to take it, and say that I'm too small
Cool, 'Cause I don't get upset
I kick a hole in the speaker, pull the plug, then I jet
Back to the lab ...without a mic to grab
So then I add all the rhymes I had
One after the another one, then I make another one
To dis the opposite then ask if the brother's done
I get a craving like I fiend for nicotine
But I don't need a cigarette, know what I mean?
I'm raging, ripping up the stage and
Don't it sound amazing 'cause every rhyme is made and
Thought of, Cuz it's sort of...an addiction,
Magnatized by the mixing
E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
But back to the problem, I gotta habit,
You can't solve it, you silly rabbit
The prescription is a hypertone that's thorough when
I fiend for a microphone like heroin
Soon as the bass kicks, I need a fix
Gimme a stage and a mic and a mix
And I'll put you in a mood or is it a state of
unawareness? Beware, it's the reanamator!
A menace to a microphone, a lethal weapon
An assasinator, if the people ain't stepping
You see a part of me that you never seen
When I'm fiending for a microphone.
Cause I take it to the maximum, I can't relax see, I'm
Hype as a hyperchrondriac 'cause the rap be one
Hell of a antidote, something you can't smoke
More than dope, you're trying to move away but you can't, you're broke
More than cracked up, you should have backed up
For those who act up need to be more than smacked up
E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
A smooth operator operating correctly.
A smooth operator operating correctly.
A smooth operator operating correctly.
A smooth operator operating correctly.
Uh!
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated ...originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated ...complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated ...originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated ...complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated ...originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated ...complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated ...originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated ...complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
'Cause I'm an E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
A smooth operator operating correctly
A smooth operator operating correctly
A smooth operator operating correctly
'Cause I'm an E-F-F-E-C-T
I melted microphone instead of cones of ice cream
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
Shot grabbed the mic and try to say, " Yes y'all!"
They tried to take it, and say that I'm too small
Cool, 'Cause I don't get upset
I kick a hole in the speaker, pull the plug, then I jet
Back to the lab ...without a mic to grab
So then I add all the rhymes I had
One after the another one, then I make another one
To dis the opposite then ask if the brother's done
I get a craving like I fiend for nicotine
But I don't need a cigarette, know what I mean?
I'm raging, ripping up the stage and
Don't it sound amazing 'cause every rhyme is made and
Thought of, Cuz it's sort of...an addiction,
Magnatized by the mixing
E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
But back to the problem, I gotta habit,
You can't solve it, you silly rabbit
The prescription is a hypertone that's thorough when
I fiend for a microphone like heroin
Soon as the bass kicks, I need a fix
Gimme a stage and a mic and a mix
And I'll put you in a mood or is it a state of
unawareness? Beware, it's the reanamator!
A menace to a microphone, a lethal weapon
An assasinator, if the people ain't stepping
You see a part of me that you never seen
When I'm fiending for a microphone.
Cause I take it to the maximum, I can't relax see, I'm
Hype as a hyperchrondriac 'cause the rap be one
Hell of a antidote, something you can't smoke
More than dope, you're trying to move away but you can't, you're broke
More than cracked up, you should have backed up
For those who act up need to be more than smacked up
E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly.
A smooth operator operating correctly.
A smooth operator operating correctly.
A smooth operator operating correctly.
A smooth operator operating correctly.
Uh!
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated ...originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated ...complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated ...originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated ...complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated ...originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated ...complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated ...originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated ...complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
Music orientated so when hip-hop was originated
Fitted like pieces of puzzles, complicated
'Cause I'm an E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
An E-F-F-E-C-T
A smooth operator operating correctly
A smooth operator operating correctly
A smooth operator operating correctly
A smooth operator operating correctly
'Cause I'm an E-F-F-E-C-T
Lyrics submitted by Idan
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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,
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.
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.
imo this song is about being straight eg. instead of zach getting a kick from heroin or whatever like most rappers, to zach his lyrics and rhymes are his addiction.