"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.
It's 1:30 in the morning
That's alright by me
You just waiting by the phone
I should give a little warning
But I need the things I need
I'm not proud to need a hand
But I just don't understand
[Chorus]
So, Why should you come when I call
I never say nothing at all
Why do I go, when I go
It's leaving me here all alone
You ought to get out on your own
Ain't necessarily a bad thing
To believe the things I say
Cause you can make yourself feel good
You know it's really not a good thing
To give everything to me
I'm just waiting for the show
Cause I got no where to go
[Chorus]
Cause nothing makes me feel so good
Gets me high
So I sleep at night
And that's enough and everything
Alright
I feel nice
So sorry in the morning
Could believe what you believe
I'm used to waking up alone
And if you think about it
Anyone you think about is a better love than me
But if you've not fallin' quite asleep?
I might call tonight
If that's alright
[Chorus]
That's alright by me
You just waiting by the phone
I should give a little warning
But I need the things I need
I'm not proud to need a hand
But I just don't understand
[Chorus]
So, Why should you come when I call
I never say nothing at all
Why do I go, when I go
It's leaving me here all alone
You ought to get out on your own
Ain't necessarily a bad thing
To believe the things I say
Cause you can make yourself feel good
You know it's really not a good thing
To give everything to me
I'm just waiting for the show
Cause I got no where to go
[Chorus]
Cause nothing makes me feel so good
Gets me high
So I sleep at night
And that's enough and everything
Alright
I feel nice
So sorry in the morning
Could believe what you believe
I'm used to waking up alone
And if you think about it
Anyone you think about is a better love than me
But if you've not fallin' quite asleep?
I might call tonight
If that's alright
[Chorus]
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
i know so many girls like this. can you really blame a guy for wanting free meaningless sex when there are girls out there without enough respect to say no? the guy feels bad, but he's not invested in it and there was no commitment or deal so he can justify his own exploits by saying that she knows what she's getting into, but he knows just as well as her that she is getting hurt.