"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'll take back what is left
of what you've had
barely enough
to keep me dead
tell me how to make some sense
of the mess you left me with
you used up every chance with me
to settle for you
won't settle for me
this
need for
more has me
cold and shakey
no
more wait -
ing for a
reaction face
when they hear about
the trouble that started
when you and i met
and let me remind you
i plan to get through
with or without you
just tell me how to make some sense
of the mess you left me with
you used up every chance with me
to settle for you
won't settle for me
want
verses need
don't push me
i have no need
buy
or sell
those beans are
a nuclear
falling out
disaster, that called in the troops
even faster then when
all the lights went to red
instead of the days when we
made eachother
and we tried to make some sense
of the mess you left me with
you used up every chance with me
to settle for you
won't settle for me
"later please"
doesn't put my mind as ease
pushes me away
say what you have to
if you try to make some sense
of the mess you left me with
you used up every chance with me
to settle for you
won't settle for me
tell me
how to
make sense
of this
nonsense
distress
won't
settle down
"later please"
doesn't put my mind at ease
pushes me away
say what you have to
say
adulthood,
the final stage in the life cycle of the frog
physical growth has reached it's syntex
proficiency improves
via new expiriences and fresh stimuli
the frog, like all organisms,
continues to develop and nuture until expiration
of what you've had
barely enough
to keep me dead
tell me how to make some sense
of the mess you left me with
you used up every chance with me
to settle for you
won't settle for me
this
need for
more has me
cold and shakey
no
more wait -
ing for a
reaction face
when they hear about
the trouble that started
when you and i met
and let me remind you
i plan to get through
with or without you
just tell me how to make some sense
of the mess you left me with
you used up every chance with me
to settle for you
won't settle for me
want
verses need
don't push me
i have no need
buy
or sell
those beans are
a nuclear
falling out
disaster, that called in the troops
even faster then when
all the lights went to red
instead of the days when we
made eachother
and we tried to make some sense
of the mess you left me with
you used up every chance with me
to settle for you
won't settle for me
"later please"
doesn't put my mind as ease
pushes me away
say what you have to
if you try to make some sense
of the mess you left me with
you used up every chance with me
to settle for you
won't settle for me
tell me
how to
make sense
of this
nonsense
distress
won't
settle down
"later please"
doesn't put my mind at ease
pushes me away
say what you have to
say
adulthood,
the final stage in the life cycle of the frog
physical growth has reached it's syntex
proficiency improves
via new expiriences and fresh stimuli
the frog, like all organisms,
continues to develop and nuture until expiration
Lyrics submitted by Embrace
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
Beautiful beautiful song. Gives me goosebumps when I hear it...