"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 in love with a lady
And I know the lady's in love with me
And she knows how to always be there
That's why she's willin' and ready
But now and then, every once in a while
Something inside of me, maybe inside of her
Have you ever had one of those days
Where it all is going wrong
And it just can't seem to get along?
But through it all you know you're gonna make it.
Call it true love
Call it not meant to be
You can call it anything at all, you see.
Call it what you want
It's all the same to me.
Music means a lot to me
Like love, I make it when I can.
All I am is all I'll ever be
And that's just a boy from Texarkana.
But now and then oh, but once in a while,
They start treating me like some kind of superstar.
Need I mention, at the end of the day
What matters most of all
It's not where you're at
Or where you're comin' from
When all is said and done
You can call it
Heavy metal, hard-core, pop, punk, or thrash
You can call it anything, it don't matter to me
Call it what you want
It's all music to me
Call it communism, call it free
Some call the ocean what some call the sea
Call it what you want
That doesn't change a thing for me
Not a thing
Baby's lyin' in the cradle
Universe is all within his reach
Wearin' rags or mink and sable
Needs a guidin' hand or it's out on the streets
Now momma's out
She's never at home
Daddy's taking care of business
He's out on the road
It's rainin' cats and dogs
But the child within us all must face the storm
Call it individuality
Some call it fate, others reality
Call it what you want
It doesn't matter to me
Call it communism, call it free
Some call the ocean what some call the sea
Call it what you want
That doesn't change a thing for me
Not a thing!
And I know the lady's in love with me
And she knows how to always be there
That's why she's willin' and ready
But now and then, every once in a while
Something inside of me, maybe inside of her
Have you ever had one of those days
Where it all is going wrong
And it just can't seem to get along?
But through it all you know you're gonna make it.
Call it true love
Call it not meant to be
You can call it anything at all, you see.
Call it what you want
It's all the same to me.
Music means a lot to me
Like love, I make it when I can.
All I am is all I'll ever be
And that's just a boy from Texarkana.
But now and then oh, but once in a while,
They start treating me like some kind of superstar.
Need I mention, at the end of the day
What matters most of all
It's not where you're at
Or where you're comin' from
When all is said and done
You can call it
Heavy metal, hard-core, pop, punk, or thrash
You can call it anything, it don't matter to me
Call it what you want
It's all music to me
Call it communism, call it free
Some call the ocean what some call the sea
Call it what you want
That doesn't change a thing for me
Not a thing
Baby's lyin' in the cradle
Universe is all within his reach
Wearin' rags or mink and sable
Needs a guidin' hand or it's out on the streets
Now momma's out
She's never at home
Daddy's taking care of business
He's out on the road
It's rainin' cats and dogs
But the child within us all must face the storm
Call it individuality
Some call it fate, others reality
Call it what you want
It doesn't matter to me
Call it communism, call it free
Some call the ocean what some call the sea
Call it what you want
That doesn't change a thing for me
Not a thing!
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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”
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.
pretty simple, just saying call things what you want, it wont change my mind about how i feel