"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.
Try to get some rest,
count backward from ten.
You've gone too long without sleep
I know you won't rest stressed, so give up, just give up.
And don't say no to pills,
Ativan won't kill.
You said, 'My life's like a bad movie,'
And I said, 'It's true of all us.'
You said, you said, 'I've got to wake up so fucking early,'
And I said, 'Maybe the directors turned on us.'
Outside the five sounds like the ocean,
relax, don't keep your eyes open.
Don't look at the clock,
your brain will never stop.
You said, 'My life's like a bad movie,'
And I said, 'That's true of all us.'
You said, you said, 'I've got to wake up so fucking early,'
And I said, 'Maybe the directors turned on us.'
Don't say no to pills,
Ativan won't kill.
count backward from ten.
You've gone too long without sleep
I know you won't rest stressed, so give up, just give up.
And don't say no to pills,
Ativan won't kill.
You said, 'My life's like a bad movie,'
And I said, 'It's true of all us.'
You said, you said, 'I've got to wake up so fucking early,'
And I said, 'Maybe the directors turned on us.'
Outside the five sounds like the ocean,
relax, don't keep your eyes open.
Don't look at the clock,
your brain will never stop.
You said, 'My life's like a bad movie,'
And I said, 'That's true of all us.'
You said, you said, 'I've got to wake up so fucking early,'
And I said, 'Maybe the directors turned on us.'
Don't say no to pills,
Ativan won't kill.
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."
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
if you've ever been in the midst of being extremely stressed out to the point of anxiety, you would understand this song. atavan is a pill you take when you're extremely stressed out/ridden with anxiety. i would know - i have taken it. basically, it relaxes you so you're not so worried anymore. this song is obviously about someone very much cared about, but this person is both distressed and desolate about what's going on.
with "my life's like a bad movie," maybe this person feels their life is a mockery? and the replies back from the narrator of the song are trying to act as like a comfort, especially since they are saying, "that's true of all of us." perhaps, they're trying to show this person that they are not alone?
and "Atavan won't kill," is obviously the narrator's way of saying, "don't be scared of these pills, they can and will help you - just give them a chance, you'll feel better."
this is definitely my favorite song ever. i think i could listen to it for the rest of my life.
People everywhere need to stop listening to shite like good charolette and brand new and crap, and listen to some real music like this. not something produced for mtv and teeny boppers.
This songs basically perfect. Simple lyrics but they actually mean something to whoever wrote them, they come to life with the perfect music backing it.
wow you have obviously never listened to brand new. definitely not produced by mtv and teeny boppers.
I'm offended someone would put brand new even in the same category as a band like good charlotte.
Just gonna mention that the guy posted that in '03, when Deja Entendu had just come out, and Brand New was actually still touring with bands such as – horror of horrors – Good Charlotte. Seriously, Brand New circa Your Favorite Weapon is a completely different band from the Brand New you guys are used to by now.<br /> <br /> Of course, I'm about a year late to the party here, but considering the gap between the first guy and the two responses, this post is breaking news by comparison.<br /> <br /> This is all completely off-topic, so I'll just mention that this song is excellent, and that I wish that Omni was as consistently enjoyable as MtB's previous releases... instrumentally, at the very least. As far as lyrically, tons of songs about doin' it are more or less par for the course.
i agree with littlexpinkxstars. this song is my absolute favorite, hands down.
No mock, idiots listen to that shit music. Let them have it and mtv.
Ativan affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. Ativan is most commonly used to relieve anxiety, nervousness, and tension associated with anxiety disorders. It is also used to treat certain types of seizure disorders and to relieve insomnia (induce sleep). Ativan may also be used for purposes other than those listed in here.
I love this song. It's shows how amazing Minus the Bear really is.
i love ativan. it's like valium.
Oh, you're cool.
my favorite song off of highly refined pirates
You said, 'My life's like a bad movie,' I said, 'That's not true of all us.'
sound like my life!
thnks to "neurotic" for the info :)