"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.
You need someone to hold you
You need somethin' that you ain't been getting
Yeah, I could be the one
To tell you what to do, but it don't mean nothing
And you're holding on forever
But that something just ain't true
I'm just like you
And I know
It's what I'd do
Here I go
Cause I couldn't stop the world, cause I loved you
I couldn't stop the world, and I don't want to
I couldn't stop the world, and I won't
Cause it ain't enough
You had another bad day
You let me know that you just can't take it
I've given up on you
You live in truth and I know I can't fake it
Cause the stars you see on dirty sidewalks
And they ain't for wishin', ooh
They don't come true
And I know, it's what I'd do
Here I go
Cause I couldn't stop the world, 'cause I loved you
I couldn't stop the world, and I don't want to
I couldn't stop the world, and I won't
Cause it ain't enough
Am I too young for the world?
I'm not too young for the world
And I can't change for the world
(I don't need to stop the world)
'Cause I don't care for the world
(I'm too young, I'm too young)
I don't make sense to the world
(I don't need to stop the world)
(I'm too young, I'm too young)
You need somethin' that you ain't been getting
Yeah, I could be the one
To tell you what to do, but it don't mean nothing
And you're holding on forever
But that something just ain't true
I'm just like you
And I know
It's what I'd do
Here I go
Cause I couldn't stop the world, cause I loved you
I couldn't stop the world, and I don't want to
I couldn't stop the world, and I won't
Cause it ain't enough
You had another bad day
You let me know that you just can't take it
I've given up on you
You live in truth and I know I can't fake it
Cause the stars you see on dirty sidewalks
And they ain't for wishin', ooh
They don't come true
And I know, it's what I'd do
Here I go
Cause I couldn't stop the world, 'cause I loved you
I couldn't stop the world, and I don't want to
I couldn't stop the world, and I won't
Cause it ain't enough
Am I too young for the world?
I'm not too young for the world
And I can't change for the world
(I don't need to stop the world)
'Cause I don't care for the world
(I'm too young, I'm too young)
I don't make sense to the world
(I don't need to stop the world)
(I'm too young, I'm too young)
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
I love this song, one of my favourites by the Goo's.
You feel you love someone so much you'd do anything for them, stop the world in this case and stop all of the things that are hurting them. But in the long run you know it really won't solve anything or help. The person in question just complains too much and you're fed up with trying to 'stop the world' just to please them. They just have to learn to deal with the shit that comes their way.
@sleepflower I don't think this person ever tries. The statements are narcissistic and contradicting. As if the person was hurt at some point, broken, and just gave up...unfortunately you still go along with it all because fitting in is still important in this/their world.
ahhhhhh this song is AMAZING!!! at first i was like wtf type of goo goo dolls song is this??? (as in "opposite of iris") but its still got the same heart as their recent stuff... i could stop the world cuz i love you.... sigh.
its probably about a guy that would do anything for this girl..even stop the world..but it "wouldnt be enough" maybe b/c hes too young or she doesnt think hes right for her.."Im not too young for the world and i cant change for the world"... but none the less w/e it means i LOVE it!!! stay goo peace
wait, so at first you didn't like this song when you first heard it because it wasn't like "iris"? this song is exactly what the goo goo dolls are...or were...before they went mainstream. this song was from more than 10 years ago. it's people like you that annoy me. but a goo fan is a goo fan, so i'm just going to shut up. =)
I've never commented on any songs before, but upon seeing this song had so few remarks I had to jump in. This is my favorite tune off of Superstar Car Wash. I actually feel as though Johnny is right by me singing this song, the vocals, the lyrics, everything about this song is beautiful. =]
"Cause' the stars you see on a dirty sidewalk, and they ain't polished and new."
*are on a dirty sidewalk
Ah, typos.