"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.
Transient jet lag
Ecto mimed bison
This is the haunt of roulette dares
Ruse of metacarpi
Caveat emptor
To all that enter here
Open wrist talk back again
In the wounds of its skin
They'll pinprick the witness
In ritual contrition
The am trinity
Fell upon asphyxia-derailed
In the rattles of
Made its way through the tracks
Of a snail slouching whisper
A half mass comute
Through umbilical blisters
Spector will lurk
Radar has gathered
Midnight nooses from boxcar cadavers
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
No-oh-aay
It's because
This is
Cranial bleeding
Leaches train the living
Cursed are they who speak its name
Ruse of metacarpi
Caveat emptor
To all that enter here
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
No-oh-yeah
It's because
This is
Ratteling the laughter
Hinges splintering inside
Bludgeoned to a saddle
Rang the cloister bell inside
Inside
Inside
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
No-oh-yeah
It's because
This is
Ecto mimed bison
This is the haunt of roulette dares
Ruse of metacarpi
Caveat emptor
To all that enter here
Open wrist talk back again
In the wounds of its skin
They'll pinprick the witness
In ritual contrition
The am trinity
Fell upon asphyxia-derailed
In the rattles of
Made its way through the tracks
Of a snail slouching whisper
A half mass comute
Through umbilical blisters
Spector will lurk
Radar has gathered
Midnight nooses from boxcar cadavers
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
No-oh-aay
It's because
This is
Cranial bleeding
Leaches train the living
Cursed are they who speak its name
Ruse of metacarpi
Caveat emptor
To all that enter here
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
No-oh-yeah
It's because
This is
Ratteling the laughter
Hinges splintering inside
Bludgeoned to a saddle
Rang the cloister bell inside
Inside
Inside
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
No-oh-yeah
It's because
This is
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
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.
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.
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/
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.
I feel like this song is about a druggies path to the "after-world."
The first few versus are about the drug dealer selling him the narcotic...
Transient jet lag ecto mimed bison - dazed and out of body he finds a portrayed man (dealer) This is the haunt of roulette dares - This is his frequent challenge of gambling with the narcotic Ruse of metacarpi - slight of hand (the dealer gives him the stuff) Caveat emptor... to all that enter here - Buyer beware...to all that inject
Then taking the narcotic...
Open wrist talks back again - he's killing himself but not literally slicing his wrists In the wounded of its skin - it's going to be his fault They'll pinprick the witness - he shoots up In ritual contrition - in ceremonial remorse cause he's addicted
The a.m. trinity fell upon asphyxia-derailed - The morning god finds the druggie asphyxiated In the rattles of... - In the confusion Made its way through the tracks - went through his veins (cont in next verse) Of a snail slouching whisper - slowly and quietly A half mast commute through umbilical blisters - a somber voyage through his dependency which injures Spectre will lurk - The spirit will see Radar has gathered - Awareness has come Midnight nooses from boxcar cadavers - Dark death
Then death itself...
Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed - The mind has left the body and joining is on hold Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed
It's because this is... Cranial bleeding - his mind is dying (soul) Leeches train the living - evil conquers the living Cursed are they who speak its name - don't tell Ruse of metacarpi - slight of hand Caveat emptor to all that enter here - buyer beware to all that come
Funeral???..
Rattling the laughter - confusing happiness Hinges splintering inside - trapped by wooden corners Bludgeoned to a saddle - forced to one place Rang the cloister bell inside - ring the quiet bell within inside - within inside - within
Maybe, maybe not at all. Great song either way
I think BlackTippedWings has got it. "Midnight neuces from boxcar cadavears" I think "neuces" might be "nooses". And that might be talking about a stethescope on a doctor, and the boxcar could be the ambulance. I could be way off, but that's just my interpretation.
"Made its way through the tracks Of a snail slouching whisper A half mass comute through umbilical blisters "
It it is in fact talking about his ride in the ambulance, "Tracks" could be roads, "snail" could be the pace that he percieves, because morphine slows things down, and "commute" could be the ride to the hospital.
@HurrayForSchool where the hell you guys get this BS interpretations from. People who think there are some objective meaning to cedric's lyrics have completely missed the essence of mars volta.
i think "exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed" might be talking about how he tried to commit suicide and now is in a comma (hs body is kind of just like a shell with no conciousness-- hence exoskeletal. junction at the railroad delayed is since hes not dead yet(suicide has failed) might be kind of like judgement after death has been delayed
@jonderr Eh no. That's the loosest most vague ass interpretation I've ever heard. Why must people like you exist, to put some objective solid meaning into an obviously subjective artistic lyricist, who clearly stated that there is no one meaning or any meaning to his lyrics as much as he just likes to make word games and twist the english language. the lyrics are based around a story yes but they don't just mean that one thing. it's art with words, his instrument as a musician, his colors are meanings and words. don't put the birds of thought in the cages of words, and if you do, don't put the cage in an even bigger cage of your opinion.
i keep saying : this and Eriatarka are the most fucking amazing songs i ever heard in my entire life..
trust me , i heard a lot of songs from diferent bands..
@RedSpikedWalls trust what, your opinion? the opposite of what the volta would want you to be, OPEN MINDED.
at the end of the chorus, when the guitar comes in after "it's because, this is..." that part is perfect...amazing...this song in general, if only Mars Volta was this focused all the time.
this song is sooooo much better since they re-did it, the first one was good, and this one is better, didnt think they could top it
this song is so explosive
"ruse of metacarpi / caveat emptor to all that enter here" is referring to suicide decision, the movement of the hand (metacarpal is the bone in your fingers) and caveat emptor is latin for buyer beware. basically, beware about suicide.
the fuckin BEST song on de-loused....the whole rail-road and tracks thing seems to be the part of the story where he shoots up morphine
I love how the solo with the reverb he does sound like going through a tunnel. I love the whole cinematic approach they have on every song. It really accents the story.
@skemodan more like the stories accent mars volta's art. every album is completely different sounding and about a different thing completely. not always a story but sometimes like frances the mute and deloused, but all their other shit is just their art. man