"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.
One day, you're gonna understand
Zion
Unsure of what the balance held
I touched my belly overwhelmed
By what I had been chosen to perform
But then an angel came one day
Told me to kneel down and pray
For unto me a man child would be born
Woe this crazy circumstance
I knew his life deserved a chance
But everybody told me to be smart
"Look at your career," they said
"Lauryn, baby, use your head"
But instead I chose to use my heart
Now the joy of my world is in Zion (Zion, Zion)
Now the joy of my world is in Zion (Zion, uh, Zion)
How beautiful if nothing more
Than to wait at Zion's door
I've never been in love like this before
Now let me pray to keep you from
The perils that will surely come
See life for you my prince has just begun
And I thank you for choosing me
To come through unto life to be
A beautiful reflection of his grace
See I know that a gift so great
Is only one God could create
And I'm reminded every time I see your face
That the joy (joy)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Now the joy (joy)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Is in Zion
Now the joy (joy)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Is in Zion
Now the joy (joy)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Is in Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
Zion
Unsure of what the balance held
I touched my belly overwhelmed
By what I had been chosen to perform
But then an angel came one day
Told me to kneel down and pray
For unto me a man child would be born
Woe this crazy circumstance
I knew his life deserved a chance
But everybody told me to be smart
"Look at your career," they said
"Lauryn, baby, use your head"
But instead I chose to use my heart
Now the joy of my world is in Zion (Zion, Zion)
Now the joy of my world is in Zion (Zion, uh, Zion)
How beautiful if nothing more
Than to wait at Zion's door
I've never been in love like this before
Now let me pray to keep you from
The perils that will surely come
See life for you my prince has just begun
And I thank you for choosing me
To come through unto life to be
A beautiful reflection of his grace
See I know that a gift so great
Is only one God could create
And I'm reminded every time I see your face
That the joy (joy)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Now the joy (joy)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Is in Zion
Now the joy (joy)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Is in Zion
Now the joy (joy)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Is in Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
(Marching), beautiful, beautiful Zion
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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,
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/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I couldn’t disagree more with syvliasoven. Thank you Mattius82 for being a voice of reason and logic. Sylviasoven….Who is declaring this to be a religious OR Pro-Life “Anthem”?? Umm, nobody. So what ARE you talking about? Maybe you should open your dictionary and look up Zion. Here, I’ll make it easy for you and highlight…
Zi-on: noun.
I’m not at all religious OR a Pro-Life campaigner. This song was intended to talk about the perils of unplanned pregnancy and the beautiful CHILD (not CHOICE) that came along with it. “I knew his life deserved a chance.” Not “ I knew my choice deserved a chance.” So whatever your harboring about abortion is your problem, not ours. I advise you to think about children in these situations, and not the political agenda. Children who are adopted grow up and read ignorant statements, much like yours, and will never understand why society as a whole does not acquire perspective before asserting their negative opinions on a commitment (life) that should be smiled upon. Nothing more. Nobody here said anything about anti-abortion, or politics for that matter. We all (sans you) seem to agree that this song is a beautiful and positive reflection of not just a ‘decision’ but a life. (Retards? Are you five?)