"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.
Then against my better judgment I went walking out that door.
I smiled at one person then I nodded to three more.
One man asked me for a dollar, I asked him, "What's it for?"
He said, "I have seen them." I said, "O.K., it's yours."
And as featured on the M-T-V, the local high school lets out,
And the town becomes anarchy.
Parties are crashed, skid marks are measured.
The story's in the paper, you may read it at your leisure.
Get out.
Eject.
Escape From the Prison Planet.
Get out.
Eject.
Escape From the Prison Planet.
And to the tune of a billion dollars, I supplied to the D.O.E.
Some tasty little nuggets of alien technology.
And as one might expect, I've been harassed for years.
The Men In Black have been bending my ear.
As a matter of fact, they were just here today,
But I escaped them through a secret passageway.
Once I lived there for one thousand days.
Get out.
Eject.
Escape From the Prison Planet.
Get out.
Eject.
Escape From the Prison Planet.
I have plans for the future, guess they're futuristic plans.
Move out west and buy some desert lands.
Maybe up North, just past Alaska.
You know nothing of this if they ask you.
Red Rover, Red Rover, Bob Lazar's coming over.
So honey clear the airstrip and light up that stove.
By Jove, I think it's started. Oh yeah,
Escape From the Prison Planet.
Billion people harvest on Mars.
Rebuild the remnants of the obelisk,
One mile from the pyramid.
Escape From the Planet of the Apes.
Go forth, ad infinitum.
Return the relics to the Elephant.
And Atlantis rises.
Get out.
Eject.
Escape From the Prison Planet.
Ejector seat ignite.
Billion people harvest on Mars.
Rebuild the remnants of the obelisk,
One mile from the pyramid.
Escape From the Planet of the Apes.
Go forth, ad infinitum.
Return the relics to the Elephant.
And Atlantis rises.
I smiled at one person then I nodded to three more.
One man asked me for a dollar, I asked him, "What's it for?"
He said, "I have seen them." I said, "O.K., it's yours."
And as featured on the M-T-V, the local high school lets out,
And the town becomes anarchy.
Parties are crashed, skid marks are measured.
The story's in the paper, you may read it at your leisure.
Get out.
Eject.
Escape From the Prison Planet.
Get out.
Eject.
Escape From the Prison Planet.
And to the tune of a billion dollars, I supplied to the D.O.E.
Some tasty little nuggets of alien technology.
And as one might expect, I've been harassed for years.
The Men In Black have been bending my ear.
As a matter of fact, they were just here today,
But I escaped them through a secret passageway.
Once I lived there for one thousand days.
Get out.
Eject.
Escape From the Prison Planet.
Get out.
Eject.
Escape From the Prison Planet.
I have plans for the future, guess they're futuristic plans.
Move out west and buy some desert lands.
Maybe up North, just past Alaska.
You know nothing of this if they ask you.
Red Rover, Red Rover, Bob Lazar's coming over.
So honey clear the airstrip and light up that stove.
By Jove, I think it's started. Oh yeah,
Escape From the Prison Planet.
Billion people harvest on Mars.
Rebuild the remnants of the obelisk,
One mile from the pyramid.
Escape From the Planet of the Apes.
Go forth, ad infinitum.
Return the relics to the Elephant.
And Atlantis rises.
Get out.
Eject.
Escape From the Prison Planet.
Ejector seat ignite.
Billion people harvest on Mars.
Rebuild the remnants of the obelisk,
One mile from the pyramid.
Escape From the Planet of the Apes.
Go forth, ad infinitum.
Return the relics to the Elephant.
And Atlantis rises.
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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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”
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.
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.
FIRST ONE TO COMMENT! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME! CLUTCH OWNZ! POST YOU WHORES I WANNA KNOW THE MEANING!
Yeah this shit rules. Early Clutch is my favorite shit of all time.!
This song has a good X-Files theme to it. These lyrics are incredible. Bob Lazar is a guy who actually came forward who claims he worked for the gov't on ufo's near area 51.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Lazar
This is a science fiction story. A warning to get out while we can. He is an alien. A bum has seen other aliens, and he feels bad because he knows it's true, and gives him the money. The normal humans carry on with their lives oblivious of what the bum sees.
He provided the government some of his technology in exchange for cash. They want to talk to him more, but he is not into it. He wants to get away maybe the desert (reference to area 51) or north of alaska (reference to HAARP). He shares his secret with Bob Lazar. A billion people were harvested from mars. The bible says to go forth and multiply. The obelisk, relics, the elephants, Atlantis are all references to ancient aliens. We are prisoners here (the rest of the galaxy is free) Escape from the planet of the apes (we were apes before ancient aliens added their DNA) Eject! Get out! (while you can.... before you are harvested)
How big does the world population have to be before we are harvested?
Research: False Ascension Matrix, The Demiurge, Kundalini/Chakra Systems, Templars, The Bavarian Illuminati, Ameican cover up of ET's/UFO's and Ancient Astronauts. (WARNING: The TV show is full of shit based on the writings of Zachariah Stitchen who fabricated evidence to sell his books) The song will make sense after.
space lyrics go well with clutches tune
One of Clutch's best, along with the entire Impetus record! I'd say it's about paranoia, aliens and conspiracy theories, kinda like Animal Farm. I wouldn't really claim it has a 'real' philosophical meaning though.
Escape from the Planet of the Apes would be escaping from earth, because in essence humans are just sophisticated apes. The Prison Planet would suggest being trapped, maybe the song's personae thinks himself an alien?
i think this has to do with the people having a fixation on their past and a futile effort with friutless outcomes of maintaining ruins
One thinks its about one of those strange men whos talks to anyone, hes just rambling on about bull crap about how hes being hunted down because of things hes done, "Escape From the Prison Planet" probably meaning normal life, he wants to live in his imagination.
"Red Rover, Red Rover, Bob Lazar's coming over."
Nobody can turn a phrase like Neil Fallon!!!
The first verse is just generally funny and dry, complaining about kids and their wild parties. From there, it goes into the day in the life of a conspiracy theorist, similar to Burning Beard and Animal Farm.