"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 was born on planet earth
The rotating ball where man comes first
It's been around for a long, long time
But now it's time to watch it die
I saw a man on my big blue screen
He ruled the world economy
He said the rich would never concede
But some day soon he'll be put to sleep
I've seen the life of the forest green
And adaptations of the deep blue seas
And who knows who is the fittest
They will all soon be put to rest
On a plunging flight and we're sitting
In the pilots seat in the midst of life
People on a dark horizon praying
Somebody will save their lives
I was born on planet earth
At a drastic time full of plastic mirth
And everyday I've seen increasing signs
And you would too if you'd opened your eyes
You had a chance you did not try
So now it's time to watch it die
The rotating ball where man comes first
It's been around for a long, long time
But now it's time to watch it die
I saw a man on my big blue screen
He ruled the world economy
He said the rich would never concede
But some day soon he'll be put to sleep
I've seen the life of the forest green
And adaptations of the deep blue seas
And who knows who is the fittest
They will all soon be put to rest
On a plunging flight and we're sitting
In the pilots seat in the midst of life
People on a dark horizon praying
Somebody will save their lives
I was born on planet earth
At a drastic time full of plastic mirth
And everyday I've seen increasing signs
And you would too if you'd opened your eyes
You had a chance you did not try
So now it's time to watch it die
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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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Everything we are doing to the world means that one day it will no longer satisfy our needs and we will be forced to watch the world die because of our own doing. So many people don't open their eyes and realise that the way we are living is not sustainable and in the end all of us will suffer because it is too late to change it all.