"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 be seeing you tomorrow
I'll be seeing you again
God knows we've said so little
I'd go so far as to call you a friend
But there's something in your ways
That keeps me vying for a connection
And I know you feel the same
It's become a two-way addiction
Come on and give me your heart
Write it on the back of my hand
And say it's forever
Well we never really said goodbye
Kinda left it in the air
And as the train pulled off I knew you loved her more
Oh no no no no
I'm not afraid to lose
Oh no no no no
Just give me some time and I'll walk to a different groove
Go on and give her your heart
Write it on the back of her hand
And say it's forever
Go on and give her your heart
Write it on the back of her hand
And say it's forever
That's alright, that's ok, the thoughts of you are leaving
That's alright, that's ok, the thoughts of you are leaving
Anyway, are fading anyway
Come on and give her your heart
Write it on the back of her hand
And say it's forever
Come on and give me your heart
Come on and give me your heart
Come on and give me your heart
I'll be seeing you again
God knows we've said so little
I'd go so far as to call you a friend
But there's something in your ways
That keeps me vying for a connection
And I know you feel the same
It's become a two-way addiction
Come on and give me your heart
Write it on the back of my hand
And say it's forever
Well we never really said goodbye
Kinda left it in the air
And as the train pulled off I knew you loved her more
Oh no no no no
I'm not afraid to lose
Oh no no no no
Just give me some time and I'll walk to a different groove
Go on and give her your heart
Write it on the back of her hand
And say it's forever
Go on and give her your heart
Write it on the back of her hand
And say it's forever
That's alright, that's ok, the thoughts of you are leaving
That's alright, that's ok, the thoughts of you are leaving
Anyway, are fading anyway
Come on and give her your heart
Write it on the back of her hand
And say it's forever
Come on and give me your heart
Come on and give me your heart
Come on and give me your heart
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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”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
One wonders why there are two versions doing the rounds