"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.
Thoughts through the window
Of my mind's eye
Bring another slice of terror
Yet away with my fears
I cross this pitiful world's end
Drawn to the mortification
With the creeping of my flesh
Arising lair of wounds
Inside sentient apostle
Pleasured in wreaking gore
A stenchland graveyard haunt
Amplify my horrors more
Cutting me, the fleshless surgeon
Drowning in his pain
Executed blindfold shroud
Senses all that die again
Nightmare at every turn
Delirious the spirits burn
Consuming mind and thought torn raw
Deafened by abysmal roar
Little sister's razor blades
Tear holes across your faith
Deafening hymn unholy ghost
Supplication to their whetstone host
Contradicting avatars stain the embryo unborn
Dripping walls, awash in fear
I'm dragged along the gallows field
Cancer tree is calling me
A place of bloated corpses
I'm in pain
Abducted in a maelstrom
No calm before the rage
Floating in a sea of filth
An undetermined age
Carrion for the skinless ones
Who trod the paths before
Bathing wounds in leprous tears
While screaming nevermore
The silence consuming
Wonders without end
Of my mind's eye
Bring another slice of terror
Yet away with my fears
I cross this pitiful world's end
Drawn to the mortification
With the creeping of my flesh
Arising lair of wounds
Inside sentient apostle
Pleasured in wreaking gore
A stenchland graveyard haunt
Amplify my horrors more
Cutting me, the fleshless surgeon
Drowning in his pain
Executed blindfold shroud
Senses all that die again
Nightmare at every turn
Delirious the spirits burn
Consuming mind and thought torn raw
Deafened by abysmal roar
Little sister's razor blades
Tear holes across your faith
Deafening hymn unholy ghost
Supplication to their whetstone host
Contradicting avatars stain the embryo unborn
Dripping walls, awash in fear
I'm dragged along the gallows field
Cancer tree is calling me
A place of bloated corpses
I'm in pain
Abducted in a maelstrom
No calm before the rage
Floating in a sea of filth
An undetermined age
Carrion for the skinless ones
Who trod the paths before
Bathing wounds in leprous tears
While screaming nevermore
The silence consuming
Wonders without end
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.