"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.
(Hello you've reached the afterlife message center.
The god you are trying to reach is not available to take your call)
Mama's gone and got herself a new man
It's a shame,
He's the same
Mama please please, stop pretending
This time, you won't end in tears
I find myself, with a new daddy
My mama needs love you see
Guess she don't wanna be lonely
And nobody's keeping score
I don't say hi to those guys no more
Said mama can't you feel me
Holding my breath as they knock, knock, knock on our door
You're just taking your ass to the top of that building
Throwing yourself under cars and trains
Taking the pill that you know will kill you
Under the wheels,
The same, the same
Johnny's gone and got himself a new man
He gets laid, every day
Johnny please please, stop pretending
This time, may just end in tears
Take care of yourself
Because you won't find 'daddy'
When you're popping those pills
Oh Johnny, is the danger just part of the thrill?
And nobody's keeping score
Johnny those guys that you shake it for
I said "Johnny can't you hear them
Saying mama knows best as they knock, knock,
Knock on your door"
You're just taking your ass to the top of that building
Throwing yourself under cars and trains
Taking the pill that you know will kill you
Under the wheels, the same, the same
Taking your ass to the top of that building
Throwing yourself under cars and trains
Taking the pill that you know will kill you
Under the wheels, wheels, wheels
Taking your ass to the top of that building
Under cars and trains
Taking the pill that you know will kill you
The same, the same, the same
Pretty girl, little girl, what were you thinking
Just 18 at the time
You were a mother and child, at the same time
You were a mother and child
So young and fucked up baby
Always higher than a child should see
Forgive me
To the top of that building
Under cars and trains
Taking the pill that you know will kill you
Under the wheels, wheels, wheels
Mama don't you let him stay
From bastard to loser, hurt you, used you in every way,
Mama, don't let him stay, please
Don't let him stay
I said Jesus, Mary, and the Saints above,
Won't you show him love?
I said Jesus, Mary, and the Saints above,
Won't you show him love?
The god you are trying to reach is not available to take your call)
Mama's gone and got herself a new man
It's a shame,
He's the same
Mama please please, stop pretending
This time, you won't end in tears
I find myself, with a new daddy
My mama needs love you see
Guess she don't wanna be lonely
And nobody's keeping score
I don't say hi to those guys no more
Said mama can't you feel me
Holding my breath as they knock, knock, knock on our door
You're just taking your ass to the top of that building
Throwing yourself under cars and trains
Taking the pill that you know will kill you
Under the wheels,
The same, the same
Johnny's gone and got himself a new man
He gets laid, every day
Johnny please please, stop pretending
This time, may just end in tears
Take care of yourself
Because you won't find 'daddy'
When you're popping those pills
Oh Johnny, is the danger just part of the thrill?
And nobody's keeping score
Johnny those guys that you shake it for
I said "Johnny can't you hear them
Saying mama knows best as they knock, knock,
Knock on your door"
You're just taking your ass to the top of that building
Throwing yourself under cars and trains
Taking the pill that you know will kill you
Under the wheels, the same, the same
Taking your ass to the top of that building
Throwing yourself under cars and trains
Taking the pill that you know will kill you
Under the wheels, wheels, wheels
Taking your ass to the top of that building
Under cars and trains
Taking the pill that you know will kill you
The same, the same, the same
Pretty girl, little girl, what were you thinking
Just 18 at the time
You were a mother and child, at the same time
You were a mother and child
So young and fucked up baby
Always higher than a child should see
Forgive me
To the top of that building
Under cars and trains
Taking the pill that you know will kill you
Under the wheels, wheels, wheels
Mama don't you let him stay
From bastard to loser, hurt you, used you in every way,
Mama, don't let him stay, please
Don't let him stay
I said Jesus, Mary, and the Saints above,
Won't you show him love?
I said Jesus, Mary, and the Saints above,
Won't you show him love?
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Yo La Tengo
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Head > Heels
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Amazing
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Page
Ed Sheeran
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I think the song is about self-destruction.
The story opens by telling about a woman choosing the same type of wrong man over and over in search for love. The second verse talks about Johnny using drugs and being promiscuous. Final verse speaks of a young teen mom on drugs. The chorus is simply saying they are leading themselves to a path of destruction, saying they might as well throw themselves under cars and trains or jump off a roof top.