"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.
On my way up north
Up on the Ventura
Pulled back the hood
And I was talking to you
And I knew then it would be
A life long thing
But I didn't know that we
We could break a silver lining
And I'm so sad
Like a good book
I can't put this day back
A sorta fairytale with you (a sorta fairytale with you)
A sorta fairytale with you
Things you said that day
Up on the one-oh-one
The girl come undone
I tried to downplay it
With a bet about us
You said that you'd take it
As long as I could
I could not erase it
And I'm so sad
Like a good book
I can't put this day back
A sorta fairytale with you
A sorta fairytale with you
And I ride alongside you then
And I rode alongside you then
And I rode along side 'till you lost me there in the open road
And I rode along side till the honey spread itself so thin
For me to break your bread
For me to take your word
I had to steal it
And I'm so sad
Like a good book
I can't put this day back
A sorta fairytale with you (a sorta fairytale with you)
I could pick back up whenever I feel
Down New Mexico way
Something about the open road
I knew that he was looking for some Indian blood and
Find a little in you find a little in me
we may be on this road but
We're just impostors in this country you know
So we go along and we said we'd fake it
Feel better with Oliver Stone
Till I almost smacked him seemed right that night and
I don't know what takes hold
Out there in the desert cold
These guys think they must
Try and just get over on us
And I'm so sad
Like a good book
I can't put this day back
A sorta fairytale with you (A sorta fairytale with you
A sorta fairytale with you
And I was ridin' by
Ridin' along side
For a while till you lost me
And I was ridin' by
Ridin' along till you lost me
'Till you lost Me in The rear view
You lost me I said
Way up North I took my day
All in all was a pretty nice day and
I put the hood right back where
You could taste heaven perfectly
Feel out the summer breeze
Didn't know when we'd be back and I
I don't, didn't think
We'd end up like
Like this
Up on the Ventura
Pulled back the hood
And I was talking to you
And I knew then it would be
A life long thing
But I didn't know that we
We could break a silver lining
And I'm so sad
Like a good book
I can't put this day back
A sorta fairytale with you (a sorta fairytale with you)
A sorta fairytale with you
Things you said that day
Up on the one-oh-one
The girl come undone
I tried to downplay it
With a bet about us
You said that you'd take it
As long as I could
I could not erase it
And I'm so sad
Like a good book
I can't put this day back
A sorta fairytale with you
A sorta fairytale with you
And I ride alongside you then
And I rode alongside you then
And I rode along side 'till you lost me there in the open road
And I rode along side till the honey spread itself so thin
For me to break your bread
For me to take your word
I had to steal it
And I'm so sad
Like a good book
I can't put this day back
A sorta fairytale with you (a sorta fairytale with you)
I could pick back up whenever I feel
Down New Mexico way
Something about the open road
I knew that he was looking for some Indian blood and
Find a little in you find a little in me
we may be on this road but
We're just impostors in this country you know
So we go along and we said we'd fake it
Feel better with Oliver Stone
Till I almost smacked him seemed right that night and
I don't know what takes hold
Out there in the desert cold
These guys think they must
Try and just get over on us
And I'm so sad
Like a good book
I can't put this day back
A sorta fairytale with you (A sorta fairytale with you
A sorta fairytale with you
And I was ridin' by
Ridin' along side
For a while till you lost me
And I was ridin' by
Ridin' along till you lost me
'Till you lost Me in The rear view
You lost me I said
Way up North I took my day
All in all was a pretty nice day and
I put the hood right back where
You could taste heaven perfectly
Feel out the summer breeze
Didn't know when we'd be back and I
I don't, didn't think
We'd end up like
Like this
Lyrics submitted by merchantpierce
A Sorta Fairytale Lyrics as written by Myra Ellen Amos
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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/
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.
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 dunno this song kinda sounds like being in love and how we feel bitter to the ones we love and a little tension can become a huge argument which can end a relationship.