"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.
The means are right for taking
Fade to gray
Trying to be ruthless
In the face of beauty
In this matrix
It's plain to see
It's either you or me
Bruise
Pristine
Serene
We were born to lose
Cause 'n' lie with a velvet glove
Reading like an open book
In the hands of love
In this matrix
It's plain to see
It's either you or me
Bruise
Pristine
Serene
We were born to lose
(Encore)
Means are right for taking
Fade to gray
Trying to be ruthless
In the face of beauty
In this matrix
It's plain to see
It's either you or me
Bruise
Pristine
Serene
We were born to lose
Fade to gray
Trying to be ruthless
In the face of beauty
In this matrix
It's plain to see
It's either you or me
Bruise
Pristine
Serene
We were born to lose
Cause 'n' lie with a velvet glove
Reading like an open book
In the hands of love
In this matrix
It's plain to see
It's either you or me
Bruise
Pristine
Serene
We were born to lose
(Encore)
Means are right for taking
Fade to gray
Trying to be ruthless
In the face of beauty
In this matrix
It's plain to see
It's either you or me
Bruise
Pristine
Serene
We were born to lose
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
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.
I think ''fade to grey'' is like fade into everyone else because you're being abused for being different and yourself. The fact he recorded this naked is just perfect. Heh.
Yes, it's about pressure to conform image-wise. I think the video contains giving each other lovebites because it represents the juxtaposition of the song title. The models in the video are all very beautiful and pristine and bruises (and indeed lovebites) are not very physically becoming.
to me, this is a song about the price one pays for beauty/acceptance.
Apparently this song is about being beaten up for what you wear or what you look like. That's why Brian Molko recorded it naked, which I think was very dark and witty.
I heard Brian recorded it naked too, which only supports this idea of some one judged completely and abused on their clothing. This could lead into placing stereotypes and cliques and reform..its a great song.
I've always thought this was about being beaten and abused by someone you love or child abuse
It's interesting that they chose a very different type of bruise for the video, I'm not quite sure why.....any ideas?
I'm not entirely sure what it's meaning is. I like the theories about being judged on what you wear, but I can't see how it's said in the song. Perhaps I'm just stupid with these things.
These all sound like valid interpretations, so I don't think I can interpret it any further. However, the video shows a lot of interest in hickeys, so I think that might play into it somehow.
I'm from germany and this song makes me confused. Every one of Placebo's songs do it to me. So can someone explain me what the title of the song means ???