"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.
I want to get out this relationship
But I'm scared that my man will flip
He always swears how he's gonna kill me
And fill me with the bullets from his clip
[Verse 1]
I met her in Queens her personality was erotic
She asked me where I come from, and I just replied "The projects"
Love at first sight as she was staring
Checking me up and down, yeah, at the gear that I was wearing
I had an office jacket, Polo shirt, diamond on my hand
Stonewashed pants ticked inside of some Timberlands
Her eyes just stayed on my face
She threw her hand on my hip and felt the four-fifths on my waist
Yo, my name is Ak the hard rock shit that shot a cop with a glock
Cause he tried to make the money STOP
She didn't speak, she didn't START, she didn't TALK
All of the sudden let's take a WALK through the PARK
But it was dark, she didn't bother
She probably thought I was trying to play her out
Like a Central Park jogger
But that's not my style that's what I'm telling ya
Give me your number and I'll probably call you up on my cellular
At night we spoke for hours and hours and hours and hours
Hot convo turned into cold showers
Monogamy, yo, increased to pornography
Miss Astrologist because she looked like a star to me
But I be dressing sharper than those brothers with Farrakahan
Throwing a lucky charm without a leprachaun's arm
Out on the streets dealing and sticking up
I try to make her look appealing
I went out and started tricking bucks
I got her all dressed up, she used to look messed up
Now all of her friends can't wait to be next up
I need to get her thoughts fixed up
She fell into a blender, she got the stuff all mixed up
She caught me talking about a quits
But that's that old bullshit
It's ain't over til I say it's over, miss
So if you want to catch a fit, you catch a melon split
Once you in there ain't no exit
Chorus
[Verse 2]
I talk a good game of pain
Put it in your ear and let it rain
Benadryl can't stop the migrane
Once my voice touch your brain
So you can talk that fast slang dialect
But I got a tec to keep you in check
Other words make you come correct
Think that to stop giving the loving
You must be smoking pestacide because you're damn sure bugging
After one hit you're ready to split
What, are you test crashing cars?
That's that ol' dumb dumb shit
You don't flatter me tring to sign off
You best to take the batteries out your watch if you want some time off
I write my name on your street curb
So you can scratchmy letetrs girl if you want to mark my words
I got the Calimyne BESIDE ME
In case you want to TRY ME
And break out on my ass like poison IVY
You better take it or ease, roll up you sleeves
And prepare to go all out like New Year's Eve
Trying to take my dough like a Swaggart
Girl, I have to bag ya and fall on your head like Niagra
Shit, you're bound to catch it, once I start flexing
Ayo bum bitch there ain't no exit
Chorus
But I'm scared that my man will flip
He always swears how he's gonna kill me
And fill me with the bullets from his clip
[Verse 1]
I met her in Queens her personality was erotic
She asked me where I come from, and I just replied "The projects"
Love at first sight as she was staring
Checking me up and down, yeah, at the gear that I was wearing
I had an office jacket, Polo shirt, diamond on my hand
Stonewashed pants ticked inside of some Timberlands
Her eyes just stayed on my face
She threw her hand on my hip and felt the four-fifths on my waist
Yo, my name is Ak the hard rock shit that shot a cop with a glock
Cause he tried to make the money STOP
She didn't speak, she didn't START, she didn't TALK
All of the sudden let's take a WALK through the PARK
But it was dark, she didn't bother
She probably thought I was trying to play her out
Like a Central Park jogger
But that's not my style that's what I'm telling ya
Give me your number and I'll probably call you up on my cellular
At night we spoke for hours and hours and hours and hours
Hot convo turned into cold showers
Monogamy, yo, increased to pornography
Miss Astrologist because she looked like a star to me
But I be dressing sharper than those brothers with Farrakahan
Throwing a lucky charm without a leprachaun's arm
Out on the streets dealing and sticking up
I try to make her look appealing
I went out and started tricking bucks
I got her all dressed up, she used to look messed up
Now all of her friends can't wait to be next up
I need to get her thoughts fixed up
She fell into a blender, she got the stuff all mixed up
She caught me talking about a quits
But that's that old bullshit
It's ain't over til I say it's over, miss
So if you want to catch a fit, you catch a melon split
Once you in there ain't no exit
Chorus
[Verse 2]
I talk a good game of pain
Put it in your ear and let it rain
Benadryl can't stop the migrane
Once my voice touch your brain
So you can talk that fast slang dialect
But I got a tec to keep you in check
Other words make you come correct
Think that to stop giving the loving
You must be smoking pestacide because you're damn sure bugging
After one hit you're ready to split
What, are you test crashing cars?
That's that ol' dumb dumb shit
You don't flatter me tring to sign off
You best to take the batteries out your watch if you want some time off
I write my name on your street curb
So you can scratchmy letetrs girl if you want to mark my words
I got the Calimyne BESIDE ME
In case you want to TRY ME
And break out on my ass like poison IVY
You better take it or ease, roll up you sleeves
And prepare to go all out like New Year's Eve
Trying to take my dough like a Swaggart
Girl, I have to bag ya and fall on your head like Niagra
Shit, you're bound to catch it, once I start flexing
Ayo bum bitch there ain't no exit
Chorus
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.
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.