"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.
Good things come to those you wait
They say patience is a virtue
But all I've got is the time it takes me to hurt you
I feel so little I need so much without something to believe in
Now all I've given is all I've got
That's all he had to say
Give me all, give me some, give me anything you want
You know love will only get you through the night
Give me all, give me some, give me anything you want
You know love will only get you through the night
She's not asking much from me
So I don't ask no questions
If that's the way it's gonna be
Then I call no objections
We're two that feel the same
Can't handle situation
All you've given is all you gain
So all I gotta say is
Give me all, give me some, give me anything you want
You know love will only get you through the night
Give me all, give me some, give me anything you want
You know love will only get you through the night
They say patience is a virtue
But all I've got is the time it takes me to hurt you
I feel so little I need so much without something to believe in
Now all I've given is all I've got
That's all he had to say
Give me all, give me some, give me anything you want
You know love will only get you through the night
Give me all, give me some, give me anything you want
You know love will only get you through the night
She's not asking much from me
So I don't ask no questions
If that's the way it's gonna be
Then I call no objections
We're two that feel the same
Can't handle situation
All you've given is all you gain
So all I gotta say is
Give me all, give me some, give me anything you want
You know love will only get you through the night
Give me all, give me some, give me anything you want
You know love will only get you through the night
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
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.
Good things come to those who wait They say patience is a virtue But all I've got is the time it takes me to hurt you I feel so little I need so much without something to believe in Now all I've given is all I've got But all she had to say
Give me all, give me some Give me anything you want You know love will only get you through the night
Give me all, give me some Give me anything you want You know love will only get you through the night
She's not asking much from me So I don't ask no questions If that's the way it's gonna be Then I get no objections We are two that feel the same Can't handle situation All you've given is all you gain So all I gotta say is
Give me all, give me some Give me anything you want You know love will only get you through the night
Give me all, give me some Give me anything you want You know love will only get you through the night
Give me all, give me some Give me anything you want You know love will only get you through the night
Give me all, give me some Give me anything you want You know love will only get you through the night
Give me all, give me some Give me anything you want You know love will only get you through the night
Give me all, give me some Give me anything you want You know love will only get you through the night