"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.
Walking down to the water's edge
Where I have been before
If I don't gind my love sometime
I'm walking out that door
Some may come and some may go
But no-one seems to be
The person I've been searching for
The one whose meant for me
Biding my time, trying to find a heart that's lonely
Looking for her, my love my one and only
Maybe I'll dream, tonight about the girl who'll be coming my way
So I'll take this chance and celebrate the day
When I'm making my way through an open door
I've got some love and so much more
And I"m ready to make someone mine
Making my way through an open door
I've got some love and so much more
And I'll find her, 'cause it's about time
You try too hard and it feels just like
You're running on thin air
Why does luck happen by surprise
If you don't really care
The past is gone the flames are out
From fires that have burned
New ideals and different thoughts
From lessons I have learned
Biding my time, trying to find a heart that's lonely
Looking for her, my love my one and only
Maybe I'll dream, tonight about the girl who'll be coming my way
So I'll take this chance and celebrate the day
When I'm making my way through an open door
I've got some love and so much more
And I"m ready to make someone mine
Making my way through an open door
I've got some love and so much more
And I'll find her, 'cause it's about time
Got the feeling this could take a pretty long while
To find that smile
Put my faith in another piece of good advice
Well I tried that twice
Waiting for, a little something more
To inspire, take me higher
And I"m ready to make someone mine
Making my way through an open door
I've got some love and so much more
And I'll find her, 'cause it's about time
It's about time
Where I have been before
If I don't gind my love sometime
I'm walking out that door
Some may come and some may go
But no-one seems to be
The person I've been searching for
The one whose meant for me
Biding my time, trying to find a heart that's lonely
Looking for her, my love my one and only
Maybe I'll dream, tonight about the girl who'll be coming my way
So I'll take this chance and celebrate the day
When I'm making my way through an open door
I've got some love and so much more
And I"m ready to make someone mine
Making my way through an open door
I've got some love and so much more
And I'll find her, 'cause it's about time
You try too hard and it feels just like
You're running on thin air
Why does luck happen by surprise
If you don't really care
The past is gone the flames are out
From fires that have burned
New ideals and different thoughts
From lessons I have learned
Biding my time, trying to find a heart that's lonely
Looking for her, my love my one and only
Maybe I'll dream, tonight about the girl who'll be coming my way
So I'll take this chance and celebrate the day
When I'm making my way through an open door
I've got some love and so much more
And I"m ready to make someone mine
Making my way through an open door
I've got some love and so much more
And I'll find her, 'cause it's about time
Got the feeling this could take a pretty long while
To find that smile
Put my faith in another piece of good advice
Well I tried that twice
Waiting for, a little something more
To inspire, take me higher
And I"m ready to make someone mine
Making my way through an open door
I've got some love and so much more
And I'll find her, 'cause it's about time
It's about time
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
This song is how I am feeling right now. Especially after some crap I went through this summer, everythign about this song I can relate to, and that is why it is one of my favorites.
Inspiring. :)
Yes! I agree, it's so inspiring...Makes me want to do good after all the bad things that have been coming my way lately, cause "it's about time...". Makes me want to stand up and try again. Jamie can really make beautiful music...One of my favourites as well.
I am getting married to the most beautiful girl in the world & this song will be our first dance. A wonderful song and I am a lucky guy