"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.
Turn the pages
In this old book.
Feels familiar,
Might be worth a second look.
Wrapping up dope
In a paper bag.
Talking to yourself.
Taking a drag.
(What does it matter the things you say.
You'll never hear it anyway.)
Gotta get past
The negative things.
Lawyers and business,
You get what you bring.
(No one's sorry you did it yourself.
It's time to relax now and then give it hell.)
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Didn't bet on the Dodgers
To beat the Giants
And David came up
And now you gotta pay up.
(You didn't count on that.)
Jeez, half the money's gone
and the month is still young.
What're you going to do now?
(You gotta trust someone.
Someone you trust.)
Can't go to your brother
'Cause that money's all gone.
Can't go to your friends.
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Yeah...
Made out like a bandit
For all of these years
What're you looking for?
One more big score?
(What're you trying to prove?)
Try to get closer,
But not too close.
Try to get through.
But not be through.
No one can touch you now.
I can touch you now.
You're invisible.
You've got too many secrets.
(Bob Dylan said that.
Or something like that.)
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Yeah...
In this old book.
Feels familiar,
Might be worth a second look.
Wrapping up dope
In a paper bag.
Talking to yourself.
Taking a drag.
(What does it matter the things you say.
You'll never hear it anyway.)
Gotta get past
The negative things.
Lawyers and business,
You get what you bring.
(No one's sorry you did it yourself.
It's time to relax now and then give it hell.)
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Didn't bet on the Dodgers
To beat the Giants
And David came up
And now you gotta pay up.
(You didn't count on that.)
Jeez, half the money's gone
and the month is still young.
What're you going to do now?
(You gotta trust someone.
Someone you trust.)
Can't go to your brother
'Cause that money's all gone.
Can't go to your friends.
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Yeah...
Made out like a bandit
For all of these years
What're you looking for?
One more big score?
(What're you trying to prove?)
Try to get closer,
But not too close.
Try to get through.
But not be through.
No one can touch you now.
I can touch you now.
You're invisible.
You've got too many secrets.
(Bob Dylan said that.
Or something like that.)
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Yeah...
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced 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.
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.
this song is beautiful and my fav one from the Greendale album. It means a lot to be. so many people are in this character's situation in which they're in deep shit and don't know where to run but keep hoping that things will get better. This song is very important to the whole Greendale concept album