"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.
How hard is it for me to wait for you
See you in the next one have a good time
Could be a lifetime before I see you again
See you in the next one have a good time
Eyes they open wide
Eyes they open wide
I like the way
It was hate the way it is now
Lack of time and a wasted week end
You wore your lies like a filmstar
Eyes they open wide
Eyes they open wide
I like the way it was
Hate the way it is now
See you in the next one have a good time
Could be a lifetime before I see you again
See you in the next one have a good time
Eyes they open wide
Eyes they open wide
I like the way
It was hate the way it is now
Lack of time and a wasted week end
You wore your lies like a filmstar
Eyes they open wide
Eyes they open wide
I like the way it was
Hate the way it is now
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
I've commented on a few of Verve's early songs but this one seems pretty easy for me. Ashcroft is saying goodbye to a lover, we can all relate. I believe the whole "See you in the next one, have a good time" line means see you in another life and his way of saying goodbye and to enjoy yourself along the way. We've all been there where you liked the way a relationship was, you remember the good moments and now that it's over you dwell on it and hate that it turned sour or you had to say goodbye. By the way I think Nick McCabe's piano is flawless in this song as it really sets the tone.