"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.
How dose it feel to be one of those with your backs against the wall
The wrong way down a one way street and your headed for a fall
You got no hope and no way to go and there's no one to call a friend
Your only prayer is that someone cares enough to helping hand
There no way your not gonna see it
You better you better believe it
Lets leave this fun
It a holiday in the sun
A life so serene for you not me
Yeah we got it all, no problems my friend
We're oblivious because it us not them
Everyday in the USA its a life of luxury
Are we so blind not to satisfy to your each and every need
And we don't care about the world out there we just go about out our lives
So self absorbed we can just ignore the hate outside out eyes
There no way your not gonna see it
You better you better believe it
Lets leave this fun
It a holiday in the sun
A life so serene for you not me
Yeah we got it all, no problems my friend
We're oblivious because it us not them
Isn't it nice when you have everything you need
Just before you close your eyes
It'd nice for you and me nice for you and me
Lets leave this fun
It a holiday in the sun
A life so serene for you not me
Yeah we got it all, no problems my friend
We're oblivious because it us not them
The wrong way down a one way street and your headed for a fall
You got no hope and no way to go and there's no one to call a friend
Your only prayer is that someone cares enough to helping hand
There no way your not gonna see it
You better you better believe it
Lets leave this fun
It a holiday in the sun
A life so serene for you not me
Yeah we got it all, no problems my friend
We're oblivious because it us not them
Everyday in the USA its a life of luxury
Are we so blind not to satisfy to your each and every need
And we don't care about the world out there we just go about out our lives
So self absorbed we can just ignore the hate outside out eyes
There no way your not gonna see it
You better you better believe it
Lets leave this fun
It a holiday in the sun
A life so serene for you not me
Yeah we got it all, no problems my friend
We're oblivious because it us not them
Isn't it nice when you have everything you need
Just before you close your eyes
It'd nice for you and me nice for you and me
Lets leave this fun
It a holiday in the sun
A life so serene for you not me
Yeah we got it all, no problems my friend
We're oblivious because it us not them
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
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.
Dougbranches:
To me, the song doesn't specifically apply to Americans' views of the rest of the world. It also includes content Americans who don't think about the rest of their country. The song points out that when you have everything you need, you forget about the rest of the world...including the people around you who may not be so well off.