"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.
Bound to this couch, I lie in waiting
Watching wind blown memories slip by my window sill
I can't fall asleep, voice in my head disturbs me
Waking nightmares keep, have my cries fallen on deaf ears
Can you hear me or am I
Talking to myself again, is there anybody listening
Are you taking this in, am I wasting my breath
Tell me, is the wind in your sails worth everything you give
Are you looking for something, forgiveness
I leave it up to you, I guess I'm better off removed
Because the situations growing too thick,
In your hands
Could it have been something I said,
Or was it something that I did
Did I ruin my chance, have you written me off
Tell me where did I cross the line,
And can I work my way back this time
Will I always regret this decision
I leave it up to you,
I hope you find a good excuse because
I've given about all that I can give,
In your hands
Are you taking this in, am I wasting my breath
Did I ruin my chance, have you written me off
I could try to count the times that I've been through this in my mind,
But I'm running out of fingers and I don't have that much time
Are you taking this in, am I wasting my breath
Did I ruin my chance, have you written me off
Watching wind blown memories slip by my window sill
I can't fall asleep, voice in my head disturbs me
Waking nightmares keep, have my cries fallen on deaf ears
Can you hear me or am I
Talking to myself again, is there anybody listening
Are you taking this in, am I wasting my breath
Tell me, is the wind in your sails worth everything you give
Are you looking for something, forgiveness
I leave it up to you, I guess I'm better off removed
Because the situations growing too thick,
In your hands
Could it have been something I said,
Or was it something that I did
Did I ruin my chance, have you written me off
Tell me where did I cross the line,
And can I work my way back this time
Will I always regret this decision
I leave it up to you,
I hope you find a good excuse because
I've given about all that I can give,
In your hands
Are you taking this in, am I wasting my breath
Did I ruin my chance, have you written me off
I could try to count the times that I've been through this in my mind,
But I'm running out of fingers and I don't have that much time
Are you taking this in, am I wasting my breath
Did I ruin my chance, have you written me off
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
This song is slowly becoming my favorite Thrice song, but I think In The Years To Come will be my fav for awhile longer...Eh, but this song is great away!