"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.
Early morning
Eight o'clock precise
I see the lonely August sun arise
Say you know
You will
Move me like you do
Out on the fields
I'm waiting the whole night through
Early morning, early morning, yeah
Ran the whole way
Down to the tracks
Through the doorway, then a last look back
Say you know
You will
Save me like you do
Out on the fields
I've waited the whole night through
Early morning, early morning, yeah
I climbed all the stairways
To find the rooftop clear
Got the shotgun lying with me here
Say you know
You will
Move me like you do
Out on the fields
You know how it feels, yeah
Early morning, early morning, yeah
Early morning
Eight o'clock precise
Eight o'clock precise
I see the lonely August sun arise
Say you know
You will
Move me like you do
Out on the fields
I'm waiting the whole night through
Early morning, early morning, yeah
Ran the whole way
Down to the tracks
Through the doorway, then a last look back
Say you know
You will
Save me like you do
Out on the fields
I've waited the whole night through
Early morning, early morning, yeah
I climbed all the stairways
To find the rooftop clear
Got the shotgun lying with me here
Say you know
You will
Move me like you do
Out on the fields
You know how it feels, yeah
Early morning, early morning, yeah
Early morning
Eight o'clock precise
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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.
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/
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.
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.
The song for a spree killer?
Not exactly. Seems like he's after just one person. Waiting patiently throughout the night isn't something a spree killer would do. He's also hesitant asking for someone to "save him" from doing what he's about to do. It's like he's after someone that wronged someone he loved and he's out to exact revenge. Perhaps going to shoot a guy who beat up a woman he loves? It's a decent assumption seeing as the setting sounds industrial and most of a-ha songs are about a woman.
I really can´t be 100% precise about the meaning of this song but there are elements that points to some sort of suicide after a murder.
The confusing part (at least for me) its the sweetness of the singer´s voice wich doesnt reflect what´s going on.
Early morning its a precise moment (8am) ... when the murderer sees a "lonely" sun (himself) rising ... wich is contradictory cause that´s a very beautiful and energetic moment of the day. That´s the moment in wich he´ll comit suicide. (shooting himself or jumping) ... (shotgun lying with him)
Before that my guess... is that he waits the victim and force (her/him) to say things like: move me like you do... or save me like you do... wich indicates that the victim and the murderer had some sort of sentimental relatioship.
I have the idea that the victim is able to escape (ran the whole way down to the tracks, through the doorway, then a last look back) but gets killed. (could it be a School or a University? ... the fields, tracks, doorway, stairs, rooftop)
Finally the murderer climbs the stairways and waits for the sunrise to commit suicide.
This is a terryfying song.. if you think about it.
And of course there are musical elements that point to the same meaning.. for instance the constants sounds of the slide guitar are like screams of desperation, and at the minute 1:46 the song as a falling sound.