"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'm not a genius, i'm more like a genie
granting girls wishes from my stonecold bikini yeah
sewing up ideas like delicious kisses
i'll play with your mind but i won't do your dishes boy
say it again
chorus: v.g.i. (my philosophy)
v.g.i. (is i'm a masterpiece)
v.g.i. (i wear a scrunchie)
v.g.i. (i'll say it again)
i say, i say, an intellectual genie
i'm making bullshit disappear like i'm hou-fuckin-dini
turntables around with my smile bright and gleaming
you think ya take your order boy
you must be fucking dreaming
chorus
cuz i'm extra special and i'm burning bright
i'm a ufo blazing through your starry night
you try to shoot me down girl cuz
you just don't understand
that a woman like me can't be bound to one plan
chorus
i don't wanna say i want to,
and i don't wanna say i don't
sometimes the secret is
sometimes the secret is yes
yes yes yes
v.g.i. (i'm a philosopher)
v.g.i. (and i'm a masterpiece)
v.g.i. (i wear a scrunchie)
v.g.i. (i'll say it again)
granting girls wishes from my stonecold bikini yeah
sewing up ideas like delicious kisses
i'll play with your mind but i won't do your dishes boy
say it again
chorus: v.g.i. (my philosophy)
v.g.i. (is i'm a masterpiece)
v.g.i. (i wear a scrunchie)
v.g.i. (i'll say it again)
i say, i say, an intellectual genie
i'm making bullshit disappear like i'm hou-fuckin-dini
turntables around with my smile bright and gleaming
you think ya take your order boy
you must be fucking dreaming
chorus
cuz i'm extra special and i'm burning bright
i'm a ufo blazing through your starry night
you try to shoot me down girl cuz
you just don't understand
that a woman like me can't be bound to one plan
chorus
i don't wanna say i want to,
and i don't wanna say i don't
sometimes the secret is
sometimes the secret is yes
yes yes yes
v.g.i. (i'm a philosopher)
v.g.i. (and i'm a masterpiece)
v.g.i. (i wear a scrunchie)
v.g.i. (i'll say it again)
Lyrics submitted by riotkitten
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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,
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“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.
Exactly! Especially in the 90's when the "valley girl" attitude was popular, people thought it was acceptable to think of girls associated with that scene as dumb or slutty because of the clothes they wore and the way they spoke. Fuck that! I can start a revolution in a pink miniskirt! This song is a fabulous comment about being a Valley Girl & a rockin' feminist.
oh this is my anthem. "Like" "I know right!" "Totally"-- all parts of my vocabulary, it's not indicative of my intelligence!
Exactly. I admit, I'm human. I judge people on appearances. But every girl can be a soldier, whether she's a 'lesbian dyke' or a teeny-bopper in a leather mini-skirt.
i could never figure out what that last part means "sometimes the secret is, sometimes the secret is yes, yes, yes,"???
Best ever.
I feel like this song is a big fuck you to people who try to put down the feminine. Feminism is about everyone having a choice about who they are that isn't constrained by idiot ideas about gender, not about being allowed to 'ascend' to ascetic, beer-y guydom like it's great.
You can be super radical and super girly! And you can be radical by being girly like it's an awesome, badass thing to be proud of. You don't have to hate pink to say no to sexist shitballs.
And Kathleen Hanna is absolutely a masterpiece.
'Valley Girl Intelligensia' is what the acronym represents - I think everyone here knows that but just in case anyone doesn't.
@darkship I did not know that, actually, as I just learned about this album. Thanks for clarifying that because I was wondering.