"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.
1. David Jay
She blamed him for stoking up controversy
In a dreamworld
It\'s a long way down from Heaven\'s gate
In the absence of a jury
The case continues
White lies
Seal his bitter fate
The case continues
2. Peter Murphy
Take a fish
And a potato
Hold the fish
And the potato
In your hand
In your hand
Put the potato
In the fish
Make it digest it
Smash it up
Smash it up
Smash it up
Smash it up
This is how you make fishcakes
This is how one makes fishcakes
Smash it up
Poke it up
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Put it down the fish
Put it down the fish
Throw it against the wall
Stamp on the fish
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Throw it on the wall
Smash it on the wall
Throw it on the wall
Smash it on the wall
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
3. Kevin Haskins
Do you always keep drumsticks on the piano?
Take it easy
Avoid risks
And if possible, stay at home
Not only is trouble very difficult
But your are advised of staying off ladders
For there may be the danger of performance
There is a lot of stress and strain
Both at work, and at home
But we know
Tomorrow is another day
4. Daniel Ash
Naturally enough
The others have been doing their utmost to match this performance
This is something people get when they continually drink whiskey
I can\'t drink
I hardly eat these days
Ok, that\'s fine
She blamed him for stoking up controversy
In a dreamworld
It\'s a long way down from Heaven\'s gate
In the absence of a jury
The case continues
White lies
Seal his bitter fate
The case continues
2. Peter Murphy
Take a fish
And a potato
Hold the fish
And the potato
In your hand
In your hand
Put the potato
In the fish
Make it digest it
Smash it up
Smash it up
Smash it up
Smash it up
This is how you make fishcakes
This is how one makes fishcakes
Smash it up
Poke it up
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Put it down the fish
Put it down the fish
Throw it against the wall
Stamp on the fish
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
Throw it on the wall
Smash it on the wall
Throw it on the wall
Smash it on the wall
Fishcakes
Fishcakes
3. Kevin Haskins
Do you always keep drumsticks on the piano?
Take it easy
Avoid risks
And if possible, stay at home
Not only is trouble very difficult
But your are advised of staying off ladders
For there may be the danger of performance
There is a lot of stress and strain
Both at work, and at home
But we know
Tomorrow is another day
4. Daniel Ash
Naturally enough
The others have been doing their utmost to match this performance
This is something people get when they continually drink whiskey
I can\'t drink
I hardly eat these days
Ok, that\'s fine
Lyrics submitted by alda
1. David Jay 2. Peter Murphy 3. Kevin Haskins 4. Daniel Ash song meanings
Add Your Thoughts
8 Comments
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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/
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
how can you not love Peter rambling on and on about making fish cakes
i believe each member wrote something different not knowing what the other would write and then they just put it together
very strange compilation but you just got to love fishcakes
^^;; Such an abstract little diddy...
Another example of Exquisite Corpse. A game in which a person draws a head, another draws the body, and a third person finishes the feet. You aren't allowed to see what the other person drew until the last person is done.
Except they did it with verses.
They also created another song by the same name with this writing style. ("Exquisite Corpse")
Love this one!! The fishcakes song is priceless, lol. I love the part when you hear "Oh no!" in the background.
Well Bauhaus is 3/4 Art School Kids right? So they use Surrealist techniques sometimes when writing songs. (Exquisite Corpse, Cut Up, Automatic Wrting, etc.) That's why some of them make no sense.
Its the b-side of passion of lovers. I always refer to it as "the passion of brothers" because they share vocal duties and are competing with each other as mentioned by Daniel Ash's bit. p.s:you can only hear daniels words correctly if you reverse it. Audigy works well for this.