"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.
History never repeats
I tell myself before I go to sleep
Don't say the words you might regret
I've lost before you know I can't forget
There was a girl I used to know
She dealt my love a savage blow
I was so young, too blind to see
But anyway that's History
(I say) History never repeats
I Tell myself before I go to sleep
Don't say the words you might regret
I've lost before you know I can't forget
You say I always played the fool
I can't go on if that's the rule
Better to jump than hesitate
I need a change and I can't wait
History never repeats
I tell myself before I go to sleep
And there's a light shining in the dark
Leading me on towards a change of heart (ah-ar)
History never repeats
History never repeats
Deep in the night it's all so clear
I lie awake with great ideas
Lurking about in no-man's land
I think at last I understand
History never repeats
I tell myself before I go to sleep
And there's a light shining in the dark
Leading me on towards a change of heart (ah-ar)
Never repeats
Never repeats
Never repeats
Hey hey, hey
I tell myself before I go to sleep
Don't say the words you might regret
I've lost before you know I can't forget
There was a girl I used to know
She dealt my love a savage blow
I was so young, too blind to see
But anyway that's History
(I say) History never repeats
I Tell myself before I go to sleep
Don't say the words you might regret
I've lost before you know I can't forget
You say I always played the fool
I can't go on if that's the rule
Better to jump than hesitate
I need a change and I can't wait
History never repeats
I tell myself before I go to sleep
And there's a light shining in the dark
Leading me on towards a change of heart (ah-ar)
History never repeats
History never repeats
Deep in the night it's all so clear
I lie awake with great ideas
Lurking about in no-man's land
I think at last I understand
History never repeats
I tell myself before I go to sleep
And there's a light shining in the dark
Leading me on towards a change of heart (ah-ar)
Never repeats
Never repeats
Never repeats
Hey hey, hey
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
Charlie Lyrics as written by Brian Timothy Finn
Lyrics © Royalty Network, MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
For heavens sake wake up Charlie
I'm listening to the version on She Will Have Her Way, so it's more like from a female's point of view.
So anyway, I think she killed this Charlie guy? And she's all sorry and whatever, and she only did it because they were both drunk and she never meant to actually kill him. Charlie might have been having an affair, when it says 'I was eaten up with jealousy, bones to pick and rumours to feed'.
BUT of course because it was written by males, either Charlie is a girl in some sort of relationship with the guy the song is coming from, or Charlie is a guy who was maybe messing around with this guy's girlfriend and then guy got drunk and angry and killed him. But that doesn't sound so likely because it talks about a 'sunlight halo, you look wonderful' and guys don't usually talk like that to each other.
Lol, not rly sure about that one. : )
i agree that this song is about a girlfriend being killed. i think the last verse is the singer waking up ("sunlight halo") and realising what hes done.
FYI Charlie is a common girl name in New Zealand
The guy was drunk, became enraged with jealousy, physically abused Charlie like he had before, but took it to far this last time and is now somewhat in denial about it.
One of the most haunting, moving and chilling songs I have ever heard. Clearly, the singer killed Charlie, whomever she/he was, and as the song ends, the singer is only just coming to terms with what they've done. So, so, so sad. Amazing song.
@Ttrickett Totally agree. The music disappears completely during the last verse as the protagonist begins to feel overwhelmed with horror, fear and guilt. With the possible exception of 'Semi Detached', this is the best song Tim Finn ever wrote.