"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.
Once, there was this kid who
Took a trip to Singapore and brought along his spray paint
And when he finally came back
He had cane marks all over his bottom
He said that it was from when
The warden whacked it so hard
Mm mm mm mm, mm mm mm mm, ah
Once there was this girl who
Swore that one day she would be a figure skating champion
And when she finally made it
She saw some other girl who was better
And so she hired some guy to
Club her in the kneecap
Mm mm mm, mm mm mm mm
Ah, mm mm mm mm, mm mm mm mm
They got paid for their sound bites
And sold their TV movie rights
And then, there was this guy who
Made his wife so mad one night that she cut off his wiener
And when he finally came to
He found that Mr. Happy was missing
He couldn't quite explain it
It'd always just been there
Mm mm mm mm, mm mm mm mm
Mm mm mm mm, mm mm mm mm
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Were)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Is)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Were)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Is)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Were)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Is)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Were)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Is)
(There were, there is)
(There were, there is)
Took a trip to Singapore and brought along his spray paint
And when he finally came back
He had cane marks all over his bottom
He said that it was from when
The warden whacked it so hard
Mm mm mm mm, mm mm mm mm, ah
Once there was this girl who
Swore that one day she would be a figure skating champion
And when she finally made it
She saw some other girl who was better
And so she hired some guy to
Club her in the kneecap
Mm mm mm, mm mm mm mm
Ah, mm mm mm mm, mm mm mm mm
They got paid for their sound bites
And sold their TV movie rights
And then, there was this guy who
Made his wife so mad one night that she cut off his wiener
And when he finally came to
He found that Mr. Happy was missing
He couldn't quite explain it
It'd always just been there
Mm mm mm mm, mm mm mm mm
Mm mm mm mm, mm mm mm mm
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Were)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Is)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Were)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Is)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Were)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Is)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Were)
Ah ah (There) ah ah (Is)
(There were, there is)
(There were, there is)
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Headline News Lyrics as written by Weird Al Yankovic Brad Roberts
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This song is so damn funny! how come no one's commented on it yet?
i heard this song i thin when i was.... well... extremely little.. or third grade @ my cousins hosue.. and i loved it! haha.. i kept singing "and he found out Mr Happy was gone" thinking i was just hilarious..
His best song, obvious meaning though.
i think this song is about how many weird stories make the "HEADLINES"...the music video really gives you more of an understanding than just listening to the song... really funny....
The first portion is about a guy named Michael Faye (i think, something Faye) an american guy who came over to singapore and vandalised some cars, and the big deal that was made about his punishment (caning, which is a routine punishment for minor offences in singapore, Sometimes for major ones too, in addition to jailtime.)
Second part's about Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, for those of you that don't know.
Last part's about Lorena Bobbit. I think that one's self-explanatory. Song's basically mocking the weird shit we do.
Weird Al, ever the twisted musical jester. This probably ranks as my favorite Weird Al parody. I didn't know such a comedian could make such a twisted social statement.
Weird Al is is a genius. A musical genius, musicians would agree he's up there with Frank Zappa.
Well I'm sure most of you know, but it hasn't been mentioned yet. This is a parody of Mmmm Mmmm Mmmmm by the Crash Test Dummies, and is absolutely brilliant. Weird Al at his best
the funny part is this all actually happend.