"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.
Well I think I see another side
Maybe just another light that shines
And I look over now through the door
And I still belong to no one else
Maybe I hold you to blame for all the reasons that you left.
And close my eyes 'till I see your surprise
And you're leaving before my time.
Baby won't you change your mind?
Surely don't stay long I'm missing you now.
It's like I told you I'm over you somehow
Before I close the door
I need to hear you say goodbye.
Baby won't you change your mind?
I guess that hasn't changed someone
Maybe nobody else could understand
I guess that you believe you are a woman
And that I am someone else's man
But just before I see that you leave
I want you to hold on to things that you said
Baby I wish I were dead.
Surely don't stay long I'm missing you now.
It's like I told you I'm over you somehow
Before I close the door
I need to hear you say goodbye
Baby won't you change your mind?
Maybe just another light that shines
And I look over now through the door
And I still belong to no one else
Maybe I hold you to blame for all the reasons that you left.
And close my eyes 'till I see your surprise
And you're leaving before my time.
Baby won't you change your mind?
Surely don't stay long I'm missing you now.
It's like I told you I'm over you somehow
Before I close the door
I need to hear you say goodbye.
Baby won't you change your mind?
I guess that hasn't changed someone
Maybe nobody else could understand
I guess that you believe you are a woman
And that I am someone else's man
But just before I see that you leave
I want you to hold on to things that you said
Baby I wish I were dead.
Surely don't stay long I'm missing you now.
It's like I told you I'm over you somehow
Before I close the door
I need to hear you say goodbye
Baby won't you change your mind?
Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by smallwonderrobot
Halah Lyrics as written by Hope Sandoval David Roback
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
this again is my last relationship. He gave me no reason or closure once it was over, yet I haven't been able to hold down another relationship since because he won't let that happen. I just want him to say to me that he still cares so I can say goodbye.
This is a very simple and a very beautiful song. Hope Sandoval is a quite talented artist, but this may be her greatest song. Very touching. And "riccaroni", I felt moved by your comments. Thank you for posting.
my meaning on this song is that whoever shes singing to has decided to break off the relationship. she wishes different but shes not going to beg either for him/her to stay. so i think she tries and justify it in her head that shes over him/her. i dont think that the closure is enough for her either. shes trying to hold on to him/her however way possible.
surely don't stay long i'm missing you now it's like i told you i'm over you somehow before i close the door i need to hear you say goodbye baby won't you change your mind
"baby won't you change your mind" is the best part. she's talking about the way being with someone you love, even when you know the relationship's dead you still have those feelings and a part of you wants things to be the way they were. your mind and your heart's duality.
This song is so crazily similar to what happened with my ex too. We both know that there's absolutely no future for us, and I think he understands that almost too well, but I just couldn't stop wishing that it could've gone on just a little bit longer, and that it ended too soon. In the last few days we said so many awful things to each other that I could just feel myself ripping apart with every word.. But well, in a way I am over him. But. Not quite.
Very much a break-up song, however it could also be interpreted as wanting closure after a loved one's suicide. I first heard this song in a short documentary on Christine Chubbuck:
liveleak.com/view
After seeing this, it's hard not to see the song from the point of view of someone left to wonder what, if anything, could have been done to prevent it.
And you're leaving before my time, Baby won't you change your mind...
R.I.P. Christine Chubbuck
Yeah that's what I got too. Halah is arabic for light so I just understood it as she's still in kind of denial about a passing. <3 this song
@Mgarth thank you for sharing . As I mentioned in a comment, this song absolutely speaks to me as a survivor of suicide.
This song was my song during a break up with my ex boyfriend. Every line says everything about that time in my life, and incidentally its a great song. Hope Sandoval's voice is unmatched, and I love their dreamy, ethereal, gorgeous approach to music
End of a relationship and she doesn't understand why it ended. She's still holding on to something, and she's not ready to let go...yet. Even though, he has already left. Great song. Mazzy Star is the best.
maybe i'm just crazy, but doesnt the intro sound somewhat like jesus dont want me for a sunbeam(nirvana version)
Oh, and I love the song btw. Great band.
To me this song resonates with my experience losing my lover to suicide. I’ve always loved the song but it took on a deeper meaning when I experienced a tremendous loss of a love who took his own life, who I wish I could sing this song to now. The lyrics and tone are beautiful but devastating…grief-stricken, lovelorn, longing, ominous. L