"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.
Can you take the bullet back?
Change it to a heart attack
my wish, I wonder could it be true?
Sick fits form a former home
Misfits under mistletoe
One year spent waiting, waiting for you
[Chorus:]
This isn't what i wished for
This isn't what i knew
What can waiting do?
Date: Fall 1989
Daydream of a valentine
I couldn't wait to be added alone
jump forward to twelve years time
those dreams and a sad decline
I'd just thought leaving
Would leave it alone
[Chorus]
This isn't what i wished for
This isn't what i knew
What can waiting do?
What did we prove?
Didn't we make this all come true?
(I just keep hanging on for more)
Didn't we choose?
(I just keep on waiting at the door)
How did we lose?
Where did we let the reigns go loose?
(I just keep hanging on for more)
Didn't we choose?
(I just keep on waiting at the door)
How did we lose?
Didn't we let the reigns go loose?
(I just keep hanging on for more)
What if we knew?
(I just keep on waiting at the door)
How did we lose?
Didn't we let the reigns go loose?
Can you take the bullet back
Change it to a heart attack
my wish, I wonder could it be true?
Sick fits form a former home
Misfits under mistletoe
One year spent waiting, waiting for you
[Chorus:]
This isn't what i wished for
This isn't what i knew
What can waiting do?
Date: Fall 1989
Daydream of a valentine
I couldn't wait to be added alone
jump forward to twelve years time
those dreams and a sad decline
I'd just thought leaving
Would leave it alone
[Chorus]
This isn't what i wished for
This isn't what i knew
What can waiting do?
What did we prove?
Didn't we make this all come true?
(I just keep hanging on for more)
Didn't we choose?
(I just keep on waiting at the door)
How did we lose?
Where did we let the reigns go loose?
(I just keep hanging on for more)
Didn't we choose?
(I just keep on waiting at the door)
How did we lose?
Didn't we let the reigns go loose?
(I just keep hanging on for more)
What if we knew?
(I just keep on waiting at the door)
How did we lose?
Didn't we let the reigns go loose?
Can you take the bullet back
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I'm surprised there's not a lot of actual discussion about the lyrics themselves. This song is essentially the sequel to "Close to Home" from Something to Write Home About, in that it's a song about the fact that despite being one of the most respected and popular second-wave emo bands, they never got any recognition in their hometown.
They actually remarked at their farewell show in 2005 that the song was about "our fair city," and that the "Valentine" in the song is actually a reference to Valentine Road, the street they grew up on and played their "last" show on. (Not so "last" now, anyway.) Having lived in Kansas City, it's a truly strange phenomenon. Not even many of the hipster kids there know of this band, even though they've influenced so much popular music today, and if you ask any fan of the genre in most any city in the country if they've heard of The Get Up Kids they would say yes.
this song really sounds like tjt's last album during the opening. i like it, despite that.
can you take the bullet back? change it to a heart attack awesome... I don't like very much of On A Wire... this is one of the better songs though, and the meaning's pretty obvious
i think on a wire is GUK's greatest album to date.. incredible.
On a Wire is the Get Ups 2nd best album (Something to Write Home About is obviously the best album ever made) All the songs on On a Wire are all layed back and calm, not like their other albums, which is good. Every song is good!
I also think that "On A Wire" ist their best album yet because the songs are much more complex and you can listen to them all the time... Let The Reigns Go Loose is my favorite song on the CD...
on a wire is something i'll listen to when i'm happy...something to write home about is something i'll listen to everyday 40 years from now
ok im pretty sure this is how this part goes...no big deal date fall 1989 daydream of a valentine i couldnt wait to be at it alone what do you guys think? i think that makes more sense.
SomeYoungPhenom, yer right about the lyrics. ...by the way, i love this song. its so chill and laidback.
I think it is added alone but your right about the restn there SomeYoungPhenom i'd just stop leaving leave it alone Its actually "I just thought leaving would leave it alone" Not to be picky or whatever.. just an observation