"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.
Know your place in life is where you want to be
Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me
Keep on looking forward, no use in looking 'round
Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down
Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
New wonders in the world, wonders in the world,
Wonders in the world they wrought
Live for yourself, there's no one else
More worth living for
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more
Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
New wonders in the world, wonders in the world,
Wonders in the world they wrought
Though I know they've always Told you selfishness is wrong
Yet it was for me not you
I came to write this song
Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
New wonders in the world, wonders in the world,
Wonders in the world they wrought
Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me
Keep on looking forward, no use in looking 'round
Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down
Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
New wonders in the world, wonders in the world,
Wonders in the world they wrought
Live for yourself, there's no one else
More worth living for
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more
Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
New wonders in the world, wonders in the world,
Wonders in the world they wrought
Though I know they've always Told you selfishness is wrong
Yet it was for me not you
I came to write this song
Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
New wonders in the world, wonders in the world,
Wonders in the world they wrought
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
This song is amazing. This song makes you realize how amazing Geddy Lee's voice is. Its so original, yet so amazing. He has such a unique voice but its unbelievable. I heard about how Rush dedicated some of their stuff to Ayn Rand and I would be very interested to read some of her stuff. I love Neil Pearts lyrics and themes so I would think I would like her type of work.
But this song is amazing, and I think the lyrics are good. I dont no what your talking about Brat Moj, but the meaning to me is your mind and heart will get you where you want to be in life. It's ok to be selfish sometimes becuase you should live for you. Strive for yourself, and do what you want to do in life. At least that is what I got from the song. I think the music is just amazing. Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson do a great job in this song....the beat is amazing and the ending just blows you away....I love it...No band will ever be like Rush...they are seriously one of a kind....
@steel07 thats interesting about Ayn Rand, I think I knew about that. I have idolized Rush over the years but I found out you got to be careful that your idols idols are not necessarily folks to be idolized. At least from what I gather about Ayn Rand. I don't think her ideas were anything special. ... activatecomix.com/162-1-1.comic
(activatecomix.com/162-1-1.comic)
Brat's clearly thinks we should be one collective/hive, like a hedge row where the tallest branches are pruned to be the same height as the slower growing branches. A very unnatural condition.<br /> <br /> Any Rand supported individualism, allowing people to fail or succeed based on their effort, talent, choices, etc. In her childhood in Russia, she saw the horrors of Comrade Lenin's tactics firsthand, all in the name of "the people". She escaped to the United States and spent the rest of her life promoting freedom and celebrating individuals. aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/socialism.html<br />
Brat Mo clearly thinks we should be one collective/hive, like a hedge row where the tallest branches are pruned to be the same height as the slower growing branches. A very unnatural condition.<br /> <br /> Any Rand supported individualism, allowing people to fail or succeed based on their effort, talent, choices, etc. In her childhood in Russia, she saw the horrors of Comrade Lenin's tactics firsthand, all in the name of "the people". She escaped to the United States and spent the rest of her life promoting freedom and celebrating individuals. aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/socialism.html<br />