"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 live my life, it's only right,
'Cause I can't live your life for you
I'm satisfied, feeling high,
'Cause I found out just what to do.
Oh, you can bet I never let the things I get,
Get the best of me.
When I get blue, here's what I do and so can you,
It is no mystery when you sing.
La de da, like que sera, whatever la de da,
La de da, all you gotta say is la de da.
You don't need to cry
No reason why is ever good enough for me.
We can take a walk, just laugh and talk,
Whatever's going to be will be,
And when it rains I don't complain,
I'm like a train, I just keep rolling on.
Sometimes you lose, you blow a fuse,
You're not immune to what's been going on, sing along.
La de da, like que sera, whatever la de da,
La de da, all you gotta say is la de da.
And when you're down, it can ben found,
Turn it around, you know the remedy.
(You always get what you always get, you always get what you always get)
Just cut some slack, don't look back
'Cause it's a fact it will be okay, when you say
La de da, like que sera, whatever la de da,
La de da, all you gotta say is la de da.
Oh yeah, just like Doris Day said que sera,
La de da, la de da, la de da.
All you gotta say is la de da.
All I gotta say is, all we gotta say is,
It's the only way, la de da.
La de da, la de da.
'Cause I can't live your life for you
I'm satisfied, feeling high,
'Cause I found out just what to do.
Oh, you can bet I never let the things I get,
Get the best of me.
When I get blue, here's what I do and so can you,
It is no mystery when you sing.
La de da, like que sera, whatever la de da,
La de da, all you gotta say is la de da.
You don't need to cry
No reason why is ever good enough for me.
We can take a walk, just laugh and talk,
Whatever's going to be will be,
And when it rains I don't complain,
I'm like a train, I just keep rolling on.
Sometimes you lose, you blow a fuse,
You're not immune to what's been going on, sing along.
La de da, like que sera, whatever la de da,
La de da, all you gotta say is la de da.
And when you're down, it can ben found,
Turn it around, you know the remedy.
(You always get what you always get, you always get what you always get)
Just cut some slack, don't look back
'Cause it's a fact it will be okay, when you say
La de da, like que sera, whatever la de da,
La de da, all you gotta say is la de da.
Oh yeah, just like Doris Day said que sera,
La de da, la de da, la de da.
All you gotta say is la de da.
All I gotta say is, all we gotta say is,
It's the only way, la de da.
La de da, la de da.
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
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
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/
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.