"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.
They used to say we were born to lose that we'd never make it
Our whole lives through that we'd be stuck in this dead end town
With the whole world against us we set out on our own to find
Our way of life and way around they tried to say we'd be
Nothing they only said it just to keep us down
But your never gonna get me down
And your never gonna keep us down
You can't take this time away
'Cause I am everything I said I'd be
So fuck you and fuck your town cause I got dreams
I'm gonna conquer the world
Just you wait and see
I'm proving you wrong every single day
I remember as if it was yesterday
The good old days back in 1993
Through thick and thin you are my blood brother
We all got drunk and sang our songs
It's what we did for fun
They tried to say we'd be nothing they only said it just to keep
Us down but you can't hold me down they keep runnin'
Mouths sayin' somethin' that I don't need to hear
'Cause I am everything I said I'd be
So fuck you and fuck your town cause I got dreams
I'm gonna conquer the world
Just you wait and see
I'm proving you wrong every single day
Now we're older and we'll never be the same
We don't live by the rules and that will never change
'Cause I am everything I said I'd be
So fuck you and fuck your town cause I got dreams
I'm gonna conquer the world
Just you wait and see
I'm proving you wrong every single day
I'm gonna conquer the world
I'm gonna conquer the world
I'm gonna conquer the world
Our whole lives through that we'd be stuck in this dead end town
With the whole world against us we set out on our own to find
Our way of life and way around they tried to say we'd be
Nothing they only said it just to keep us down
But your never gonna get me down
And your never gonna keep us down
You can't take this time away
'Cause I am everything I said I'd be
So fuck you and fuck your town cause I got dreams
I'm gonna conquer the world
Just you wait and see
I'm proving you wrong every single day
I remember as if it was yesterday
The good old days back in 1993
Through thick and thin you are my blood brother
We all got drunk and sang our songs
It's what we did for fun
They tried to say we'd be nothing they only said it just to keep
Us down but you can't hold me down they keep runnin'
Mouths sayin' somethin' that I don't need to hear
'Cause I am everything I said I'd be
So fuck you and fuck your town cause I got dreams
I'm gonna conquer the world
Just you wait and see
I'm proving you wrong every single day
Now we're older and we'll never be the same
We don't live by the rules and that will never change
'Cause I am everything I said I'd be
So fuck you and fuck your town cause I got dreams
I'm gonna conquer the world
Just you wait and see
I'm proving you wrong every single day
I'm gonna conquer the world
I'm gonna conquer the world
I'm gonna conquer the world
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
AWESOME SONG! This is one of my FAVORITE SONGS! Just reminds me of growing up and people not agreeing with what your doing but not giving a shit what they think!