"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.
Runnin' pretty, New York City girl (twenty-five, thirty-five)
Hello, baby, New York City girl
You grew up ridin' the subways, running with people
Up in Harlem, down on Broadway
You're no tramp, but you're no lady, talkin' that street talk
You're the heart and soul of New York City
And love, love is just a passing word
It's the thought you had in a taxi cab that got left on the curb
When he dropped you off and he stated firm
Oh, oh, oh (oh, oh, oh)
You're a native New Yorker
You should know the score by now (you should know by now)
You're a native New Yorker
(New York, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Music plays, everyone's dancin' closer and closer
Makin' friends and findin' lovers
There you are lost in the shadows, searchin' for someone (searchin' for someone)
To set you free from New York City
And, whoa, where did all those yesterdays go
When you still believed love could really be like a Broadway show
You are the star, win the applause
Oh, oh, oh (oh, oh, oh)
You're a native New Yorker
No one opens the door
For a native New Yorker
(Runnin' pretty, New York City girl)
Where did all those yesterdays go
When you still believed love could really be like a Broadway show
You're the star
You're a native New Yorker
You should know the score by now
You're a native New Yorker
You should know the score, you should know the score by now
You're a native New Yorker, oh, oh, oh (native, native, native, native New Yorker)
You're a native New Yorker
You're a native New Yorker
You should know the score (native, native, native, native New Yorker)
You're a native New Yorker
What you waitin' for, no one opens the door (you're a native New Yorker)
For a native, for a native New Yorker
Hello, baby, New York City girl
You grew up ridin' the subways, running with people
Up in Harlem, down on Broadway
You're no tramp, but you're no lady, talkin' that street talk
You're the heart and soul of New York City
And love, love is just a passing word
It's the thought you had in a taxi cab that got left on the curb
When he dropped you off and he stated firm
Oh, oh, oh (oh, oh, oh)
You're a native New Yorker
You should know the score by now (you should know by now)
You're a native New Yorker
(New York, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Music plays, everyone's dancin' closer and closer
Makin' friends and findin' lovers
There you are lost in the shadows, searchin' for someone (searchin' for someone)
To set you free from New York City
And, whoa, where did all those yesterdays go
When you still believed love could really be like a Broadway show
You are the star, win the applause
Oh, oh, oh (oh, oh, oh)
You're a native New Yorker
No one opens the door
For a native New Yorker
(Runnin' pretty, New York City girl)
Where did all those yesterdays go
When you still believed love could really be like a Broadway show
You're the star
You're a native New Yorker
You should know the score by now
You're a native New Yorker
You should know the score, you should know the score by now
You're a native New Yorker, oh, oh, oh (native, native, native, native New Yorker)
You're a native New Yorker
You're a native New Yorker
You should know the score (native, native, native, native New Yorker)
You're a native New Yorker
What you waitin' for, no one opens the door (you're a native New Yorker)
For a native, for a native New Yorker
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
The lyric "When you still believed love could really be like a Broadway show You are the star, win the applause"
Should read "When you still believed love could really be like a Broadway show You were the star, when did it close?
This is a great song.
Yes, this is a great song and a really sad song.
Lyric correction: When he dropped you off at East 83rd (rather than he stated firm).
It's a beautiful song though 'Where did all those yesterday's go When you still believed love could really be like a Broadway show' (How true, absolutely beautiful lyrics)