"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.
I've often wondered if there's ever been a perfect family
I've always longed for undividedness and sought stability
A flower taught me how to pray
But as I grew, that flower changed
She started flaying in the wind
Like golden petals scattering
And I miss you dandelion
And even love you
And I wish there was a way
For me to trust you
But it hurts me every time
I try to touch you
But I miss you dandelion
And even love you
I gravitated towards a patriarch so young predictably
I was resigned to spend my life within a maze of misery
A boy and a girl befriended me
We're bonded through despondency
I stayed so long but finally
I fled to save my sanity
And I miss you little sis
And Little brother
And I hope you realize
I'll always love you
(Always love you)
And although you're struggling
You will recover (we're gonna make it maybe)
And I miss you little sis and little brother
So many I considered
Closest to me
Turned on a dime and sold me
Out dutifully
Although that knife was chipping
Away at me
They turned their eyes away and
Went home to sleep
(Sleep) (Sleep) (Sleep)
And I missed a lot of life
But I'll recover
Though I know you really like
To see me suffer
Still I wish that you and I'd
Forgive each other
'Cause I miss you, Valentine
And really loved you
I really loved you
(I guess I loved you)
I tried so hard
But you drove me away
To preserve my sanity
And I found the strength to break away
I've always longed for undividedness and sought stability
A flower taught me how to pray
But as I grew, that flower changed
She started flaying in the wind
Like golden petals scattering
And I miss you dandelion
And even love you
And I wish there was a way
For me to trust you
But it hurts me every time
I try to touch you
But I miss you dandelion
And even love you
I gravitated towards a patriarch so young predictably
I was resigned to spend my life within a maze of misery
A boy and a girl befriended me
We're bonded through despondency
I stayed so long but finally
I fled to save my sanity
And I miss you little sis
And Little brother
And I hope you realize
I'll always love you
(Always love you)
And although you're struggling
You will recover (we're gonna make it maybe)
And I miss you little sis and little brother
So many I considered
Closest to me
Turned on a dime and sold me
Out dutifully
Although that knife was chipping
Away at me
They turned their eyes away and
Went home to sleep
(Sleep) (Sleep) (Sleep)
And I missed a lot of life
But I'll recover
Though I know you really like
To see me suffer
Still I wish that you and I'd
Forgive each other
'Cause I miss you, Valentine
And really loved you
I really loved you
(I guess I loved you)
I tried so hard
But you drove me away
To preserve my sanity
And I found the strength to break away
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“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
It's been rumored that the 'dandelion' is Mariah's older sister Alison, who had problems with drug abuse, got pregnant at an early age, etc. "Valentine" was Tommy Mottola's old stage name when he sang (YES, he did. ha ha I have no idea if he was good in any way). The "boy and girl" are harder to figure out.
The song is about the fact that, although Mariah loves these people, the circumstances between them have made things difficult.
@EyesOnly The boy and girl Mariah references are her step kids with Tommy.