"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.
How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?
How can we start over when the fighting never ends?
Baby, how can we make love if we can't make amends?
How can we be lovers if we can't be, can't be friends?
Look at us now, look at us, baby
Still tryin' to work it out never get it right
We must be fools, we must be crazy
Whoa, Whoa, when there's no communication
Whoa, whoa, it's a no win situation
How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?
How can we start over when the fighting never ends?
Baby, how can we make love if we can't make amends?
Tell me how can we be lovers if can't be friends?
We lie awake, this wall between us
We're just not talkin', we got so much to say
Let's break these chains, our love can free us
Whoa, whoa, ain't it time we started trying
Whoa, whoa, gotta stop this love from dying
How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?
How can we start over when the fighting never ends?
Baby, how can we make love if we can't make amends?
Tell me how can we be lovers if can't be friends?
Baby, love is tough but we can make it
Baby, times are rough but we can make it
We can work it out
How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?
How can we start over if the fighting never ends?
Baby, how can we make love if we can't make amends?
Tell me how can we be lovers if can't be, can't be friends?
How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?
How can we start over if the fighting never ends?
Baby, how can we make love if we can't make amends?
Tell me how can we be lovers if can't be, can't be friends?
How can we start over when the fighting never ends?
Baby, how can we make love if we can't make amends?
How can we be lovers if we can't be, can't be friends?
Look at us now, look at us, baby
Still tryin' to work it out never get it right
We must be fools, we must be crazy
Whoa, Whoa, when there's no communication
Whoa, whoa, it's a no win situation
How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?
How can we start over when the fighting never ends?
Baby, how can we make love if we can't make amends?
Tell me how can we be lovers if can't be friends?
We lie awake, this wall between us
We're just not talkin', we got so much to say
Let's break these chains, our love can free us
Whoa, whoa, ain't it time we started trying
Whoa, whoa, gotta stop this love from dying
How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?
How can we start over when the fighting never ends?
Baby, how can we make love if we can't make amends?
Tell me how can we be lovers if can't be friends?
Baby, love is tough but we can make it
Baby, times are rough but we can make it
We can work it out
How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?
How can we start over if the fighting never ends?
Baby, how can we make love if we can't make amends?
Tell me how can we be lovers if can't be, can't be friends?
How can we be lovers if we can't be friends?
How can we start over if the fighting never ends?
Baby, how can we make love if we can't make amends?
Tell me how can we be lovers if can't be, can't be friends?
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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”
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.
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.
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 heart Michael Bolton.
I love this song, because it sometimes reminds me of how I feel with my boyfriend when we argue or have a fight and then...instead of making up, we fight..again!!...I'm kind of young to be listening this (18), though...I don't care I love it.
I love this song!!! its so powerful!! great beat, great tune and vocals!!!! michael bolton always sings with his heart and soul - its awesome. Classic, classic song!!!!! Gotta love it!!! It's on fire!!! fantastic.