"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.
the paper's hanging off the walls, there's 'roaches dancing in the halls
you still pay your fortune to crawl down misery street
the euthanasia dream brigade are melting in the Hampstead shade
the zombies of life they parade down misery street
CHORUS:
so come on over with something to do , baby, I need the company
greetings now from Shitsville, NW3
why do we stay here, God only knows - it's not the scenery
greetings now from Shitsville, NW3
greetings now from Shitsville, London
and all my neighbours disappear the second that I get too near
I stick out like elephant ears on misery street
it gets so hard to sleep at night, the left of me the [drunks/drugs] still fight
while sirens scream off to the right down misery street
CHORUS
the heating's set to sauna and the carpet's getting thin
my vacuum cleaner's blowing out instead of sucking in
I drink myself to coma so that sleep escapes the din
and start this shit all over again...
so now I got a brand new day to tackle in the same old way
the ducking and diving of bills that arrive in their seemingly hundreds to pay
CHORUS
greetings now from Shitsville, London (x3)
you still pay your fortune to crawl down misery street
the euthanasia dream brigade are melting in the Hampstead shade
the zombies of life they parade down misery street
CHORUS:
so come on over with something to do , baby, I need the company
greetings now from Shitsville, NW3
why do we stay here, God only knows - it's not the scenery
greetings now from Shitsville, NW3
greetings now from Shitsville, London
and all my neighbours disappear the second that I get too near
I stick out like elephant ears on misery street
it gets so hard to sleep at night, the left of me the [drunks/drugs] still fight
while sirens scream off to the right down misery street
CHORUS
the heating's set to sauna and the carpet's getting thin
my vacuum cleaner's blowing out instead of sucking in
I drink myself to coma so that sleep escapes the din
and start this shit all over again...
so now I got a brand new day to tackle in the same old way
the ducking and diving of bills that arrive in their seemingly hundreds to pay
CHORUS
greetings now from Shitsville, London (x3)
Lyrics submitted by GodHatesACoward
Greetings From Shitsville Lyrics as written by David Leslie Walls
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, CONEXION MEDIA GROUP, INC., Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Holiday
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@[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
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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.
Amazing
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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.
How can no-one have commented on this yet? So, for any non-Brits out there, if your image of Britain is taken entirely from films like 'Bridget Jones' Diary', 'Love Actually' et al, this is a much more realistic depiction. And only Ginger could write a line like 'I stick out like elephant ears on misery street'...
^ completely true! This song is a perfect depiction of the not-so romantic side of life in merry old England- specifically London, that you won't see in films starring Hugh Grant. Great stuff
i don't think there are really any hidden meanings with this song. ginger says it all pretty concisely!
Probs about bein on the dole in london.
Yep, just about Ginger's reflections on London. Apparently the idea for the song came to him when he saw a cockroach in his flat, and he reckoned it did a little dance...Ginger is a legend!