"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.
broken reality there's no means of escape
broken reality lookin' to leave this mind-state
but the more that I leaave the harder it is to come
back
now I'm livin' out these lies that I call my trap
and I call it that cuz I didn't do this intentionally
what I now call my trap I used to call my fantasy
and why do I fantasize in order to leave the reality
of not being able to relate personally or socially
sometimes I wonder what it would feel like to be
respected
but until then I'll dream about bein' accepted
I wonder what it would feel like to be respected
chorus:
all wrong no right no one no sun no light this life
this fight I'll hide inside no matter where you go you
can't escape what's inside
man somebody get me out of this place
of lonliness hopelessness depression and disgrace
at this pace I'm on the verge of self-destruction
with nothin' to go on but my self instruction
so what then does that leave me
I try to communicate with the world, but none of you
out there could perceive me
so instead of words I began to express through action
so anger n' rage became my mere satisfaction hate
fills my being I'm seeing no means of release
so I escape into my fantasy where I live in peace
here I can be anybody I want to here I can be anybody
I choose to
here in this place I feel good there's no restriction
this place is so good that it's become my addiction
I say I'm not lost but why am I searchin
I say pain don't fade me but then again why am I
hurtin'
I say I won't show emotion but yet
I can't hide these eyes that have been stained by
tears
I say I can't be held back but yet I've been in the
same place for years
I say I wanna feel free but somethin' keeps me bound
I say I wanna go higher but my feet haven't even left
the ground
man I told ya'll I didn't care but then again why is
my heart heavy
I told the world to bring it on but deep down I knew I
wasn't ready
I said I couldn't be deceived meanwhile I'm walking
into the same old traps
I said I couldn't be broke as I watched my world
collapse
as I watch my world collapse
watch my world collapse
chorus:
No matter where you go you can't escape what's inside
no matter where you go you can't escape what's inside
no matter where you go you can't escape what's inside
no matter where I go
broken reality lookin' to leave this mind-state
but the more that I leaave the harder it is to come
back
now I'm livin' out these lies that I call my trap
and I call it that cuz I didn't do this intentionally
what I now call my trap I used to call my fantasy
and why do I fantasize in order to leave the reality
of not being able to relate personally or socially
sometimes I wonder what it would feel like to be
respected
but until then I'll dream about bein' accepted
I wonder what it would feel like to be respected
chorus:
all wrong no right no one no sun no light this life
this fight I'll hide inside no matter where you go you
can't escape what's inside
man somebody get me out of this place
of lonliness hopelessness depression and disgrace
at this pace I'm on the verge of self-destruction
with nothin' to go on but my self instruction
so what then does that leave me
I try to communicate with the world, but none of you
out there could perceive me
so instead of words I began to express through action
so anger n' rage became my mere satisfaction hate
fills my being I'm seeing no means of release
so I escape into my fantasy where I live in peace
here I can be anybody I want to here I can be anybody
I choose to
here in this place I feel good there's no restriction
this place is so good that it's become my addiction
I say I'm not lost but why am I searchin
I say pain don't fade me but then again why am I
hurtin'
I say I won't show emotion but yet
I can't hide these eyes that have been stained by
tears
I say I can't be held back but yet I've been in the
same place for years
I say I wanna feel free but somethin' keeps me bound
I say I wanna go higher but my feet haven't even left
the ground
man I told ya'll I didn't care but then again why is
my heart heavy
I told the world to bring it on but deep down I knew I
wasn't ready
I said I couldn't be deceived meanwhile I'm walking
into the same old traps
I said I couldn't be broke as I watched my world
collapse
as I watch my world collapse
watch my world collapse
chorus:
No matter where you go you can't escape what's inside
no matter where you go you can't escape what's inside
no matter where you go you can't escape what's inside
no matter where I go
Lyrics submitted by PhantasmP
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
These lyrics are incredulously wrong...
This song is about how he (john, or whoever) deals with life, how he looks at it. And how whatever lies you tell yourself, no matter how much you want to believe them, you can't escape what's inside, what the truth is.