"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.
Hey you, living for tomorrow,
You sold your dreams for a pocket of change.
Hey you smokin up your sorrow,
Just pointing fingers at someone to blame.
Hey you, you turn your back on your children
It's left you in the big burning bed
This life's like livin in the gutter,
All this pain just makes you feel dead.
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
Hey, hey, ey yey, why ey, ey,
Slow down just look a little closer,
You might find that it's not the end.
You wonder how your life could get better,
When you're alone you just tear yourself down.
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
Hey, hey, ey yey, why ey, yey,
Try and find your better half now,
Open your eyes and find yourself.
Hey girl screamin for attention,
Once you get it you throw it away.
I'm broken, I'm pickin up the pieces
I won't live in all your mistakes.
I'm just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
I'm just givin' it all, givin' it all away.
I'm just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
I'm just givin' it all, givin' it all away.
I'm just giving it up, givin it all away,
Hey, hey, ey yey, why ey, ey.
You sold your dreams for a pocket of change.
Hey you smokin up your sorrow,
Just pointing fingers at someone to blame.
Hey you, you turn your back on your children
It's left you in the big burning bed
This life's like livin in the gutter,
All this pain just makes you feel dead.
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
Hey, hey, ey yey, why ey, ey,
Slow down just look a little closer,
You might find that it's not the end.
You wonder how your life could get better,
When you're alone you just tear yourself down.
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
You're just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
Hey, hey, ey yey, why ey, yey,
Try and find your better half now,
Open your eyes and find yourself.
Hey girl screamin for attention,
Once you get it you throw it away.
I'm broken, I'm pickin up the pieces
I won't live in all your mistakes.
I'm just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
I'm just givin' it all, givin' it all away.
I'm just givin' it all, givin' it all away,
I'm just givin' it all, givin' it all away.
I'm just giving it up, givin it all away,
Hey, hey, ey yey, why ey, ey.
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Bee Gees
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@[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.
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Punchline
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
also butneveroutgunned i know you haet the used, but you haev to admit bert mccracken is a pretty good role model too, i mean addicted to heroine and on teh streets to where he is now, hes a pretty great guy xD