"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.
Down at the Lido they welcome you
With sausage and beer,
Klaus and the Rooster have been there too,
But lately he spends his time here.
Hanging with the mayor and all his friends
And nobody cares,
Where the sailor shuts out the sunrise
Blacked out on the stairs
Knock twice, rap with your cane
Feels nice, you're out of the rain
We got your skinny girl
Here at the Western World
Ruthie will give you the silver key
To open the red door:
Lay down your Jackson and you will see
The sweetness you've been crying for
In the night you hide from the madman
You're longing to be
But it all comes out on the inside
Eventually
Knock twice, rap with your cane
Feels nice, you're out of the rain
We got your skinny girl
Here at the Western World
In the night you hide from the madman
You're longing to be
But it all comes out on the inside
Eventually
Knock twice, rap with your cane
Feels nice, you're out of the rain
We got your skinny girl
Here at the Western World
With sausage and beer,
Klaus and the Rooster have been there too,
But lately he spends his time here.
Hanging with the mayor and all his friends
And nobody cares,
Where the sailor shuts out the sunrise
Blacked out on the stairs
Knock twice, rap with your cane
Feels nice, you're out of the rain
We got your skinny girl
Here at the Western World
Ruthie will give you the silver key
To open the red door:
Lay down your Jackson and you will see
The sweetness you've been crying for
In the night you hide from the madman
You're longing to be
But it all comes out on the inside
Eventually
Knock twice, rap with your cane
Feels nice, you're out of the rain
We got your skinny girl
Here at the Western World
In the night you hide from the madman
You're longing to be
But it all comes out on the inside
Eventually
Knock twice, rap with your cane
Feels nice, you're out of the rain
We got your skinny girl
Here at the Western World
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
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.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Ratfink is right. This is about Nazis hiding in post-WWII Argentina. Come on folks, listen to the lyrics - they're some of the Dan's few clear ones.
I would vote Villa Baviera in particular! Did you know "Home at Last" is about Homer and the freakin' Odyssey?<br /> <br /> Good ol' Steely Dan!