"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.
Girl you know we belong together
I don't have no time for you
To be playing with my heart like this
You'll be mine forever baby
You just wait
We belong together
And you know that I'm right
Why do you play with my heart?
Why do you play with my mind?
Said we'd be forever
Said it'd never die
How could you love me and leave me
And never say goodbye?
When I can't sleep at night
Without holding you tight
Girl, each time I try
I just break down and cry
Pain in my head
Oh, I'd rather be dead
Spinning around and around
Although we've come
To the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
Come to the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
Girl, I know you really love me
You just don't realize
You've never been there before
It's only your first time
Maybe I'll forgive you
Maybe you'll try
We should be happy together forever
You and I
Will you love me again
Like you loved me before?
This time I want you to love me much more
This time instead
Just come to my bed
And baby just don't let me, don't let go
Although we've come
To the end of the road (end of the the road)
Still I can't let go (the end of the road and I can't let go, baby)
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you (I don't know what I'm gonna do)
Come to the end of the road (I don't know what I'm gonna do)
Still I can't let go ('cause I know I've come to the end of the road)
It's unnatural (oh my god, oh my god, help me out a little bit, baby)
You belong to me
I belong to you
Girl, I'm here for you
All those times at night when you just hurt me
And just ran out with that other fella
Baby, I knew about it, I just didn't care
You just don't understand how much I love you, do you?
I'm here for you
I'm not out to go out there and cheat at night (maybe I'll forgive you)
Just like you did baby, but that's alright
I love you anyway (maybe you will try)
And I'm still going to be here for you until my dying day, baby
Right now, I'm just in so much pain, baby (we should be happy together forever)
'Cause you just won't come back to me, will you? (You and I)
Just come back to me
Yes baby, my heart is lonely (lonely, lonely)
My heart hurts baby, yes, I feel pain too (lonely, lonely)
Baby, please
This time instead just come to my bed
And baby just don't let me, don't let go
Although we've come
To the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
Come to the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
Although we've come
To the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
Come to the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
I don't have no time for you
To be playing with my heart like this
You'll be mine forever baby
You just wait
We belong together
And you know that I'm right
Why do you play with my heart?
Why do you play with my mind?
Said we'd be forever
Said it'd never die
How could you love me and leave me
And never say goodbye?
When I can't sleep at night
Without holding you tight
Girl, each time I try
I just break down and cry
Pain in my head
Oh, I'd rather be dead
Spinning around and around
Although we've come
To the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
Come to the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
Girl, I know you really love me
You just don't realize
You've never been there before
It's only your first time
Maybe I'll forgive you
Maybe you'll try
We should be happy together forever
You and I
Will you love me again
Like you loved me before?
This time I want you to love me much more
This time instead
Just come to my bed
And baby just don't let me, don't let go
Although we've come
To the end of the road (end of the the road)
Still I can't let go (the end of the road and I can't let go, baby)
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you (I don't know what I'm gonna do)
Come to the end of the road (I don't know what I'm gonna do)
Still I can't let go ('cause I know I've come to the end of the road)
It's unnatural (oh my god, oh my god, help me out a little bit, baby)
You belong to me
I belong to you
Girl, I'm here for you
All those times at night when you just hurt me
And just ran out with that other fella
Baby, I knew about it, I just didn't care
You just don't understand how much I love you, do you?
I'm here for you
I'm not out to go out there and cheat at night (maybe I'll forgive you)
Just like you did baby, but that's alright
I love you anyway (maybe you will try)
And I'm still going to be here for you until my dying day, baby
Right now, I'm just in so much pain, baby (we should be happy together forever)
'Cause you just won't come back to me, will you? (You and I)
Just come back to me
Yes baby, my heart is lonely (lonely, lonely)
My heart hurts baby, yes, I feel pain too (lonely, lonely)
Baby, please
This time instead just come to my bed
And baby just don't let me, don't let go
Although we've come
To the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
Come to the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
Although we've come
To the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
Come to the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you
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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.
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,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.
I think that a man really loves a woman and they've been lovers for a long time. But the girl breaks up with him for another man. But he wants to let her know that he will always love her, even if she loves another man.