"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.
What will you do if we let you go home
And the plastic's all melted
And so is the chrome?
Who are the brain police?
What will you do when the label comes off
And the plastic's all melted
And the chrome is too soft?
Wah
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I'm gonna die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm gonna die
I'm going to die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
Who are the brain police?
What will you do if the people you knew
Were the plastic that melted
And the chromium too?
Who are the brain police?
And the plastic's all melted
And so is the chrome?
Who are the brain police?
What will you do when the label comes off
And the plastic's all melted
And the chrome is too soft?
Wah
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I'm gonna die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm gonna die
I'm going to die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm gonna die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
I think I'm going to die
Who are the brain police?
What will you do if the people you knew
Were the plastic that melted
And the chromium too?
Who are the brain police?
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
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.
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.
Interesting comments above. But get with the programme guys. Which professionals "police" the brains, or at least the thoughts that come from it? Answer = psychiatrists. They are known as the brain police. "When we let you go home" refers to being discharged from a mental or psychiatric hospital. A psychiatric diagnosis is known as a "label". The ideas about plastic and chrome are the delusional ruminations of a madman.