"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.
It takes five minutes for me to get to your house
In no time at all on a time traveling couch
It takes four minutes to figure out the date
And I could take my time 'cause it can't be late
It takes three minutes for me to get in your head
When you start to unravel all this shit that I said
It takes two minutes to call me back and say hell no
And freeze like you banged the funny bone in your elbow
In less than a minute I'll be all out of water
And headed for the border with somebody's daughter
It takes one second to check in and say hi
After everything that happened no time goes by
It's a dream machine everything you see
And you could be whoever you choose to be
Drive easy it's alright The time traveling couch will get you home in time
My mom thought I ruined the couch to get back at her
But I couldn't figure out the Flux Capaciter
This is a vehicle of misperception
Fucked around and accidentally saw my own conception
One suggestion dude you better be sure
I was at Manhattan Island's revolutionary war
With murder on both shores I left in a hurry
Saw Indians with corn on the cob and got worried
I need to get back to reality just relax
But a dude in a top hat keeps swinging an axe
I never should have got mixed up with this damn couch
Then I crashed through the roof I was back at my mom's house
I wanna see Adam West Michael Knight and Bruce Banner
And smoke Cuban Cigars with Fidel in Havana
I wanna play yesterday's lotto so ring the bell
And tell Baby Jessica's parents she's in the well
Evacuate buildings of women and small children
And tell everyone to listen to Nostradames's vision
I go back to the future once every three days
With optimus prime so I could sell it on ebay
I went to Alcatraz got caught in a lock down so what now
I'm writing letters to Doc Brown
I made it out and saw the value of freedom
And now that I'm back to right now I'm not leaving
In no time at all on a time traveling couch
It takes four minutes to figure out the date
And I could take my time 'cause it can't be late
It takes three minutes for me to get in your head
When you start to unravel all this shit that I said
It takes two minutes to call me back and say hell no
And freeze like you banged the funny bone in your elbow
In less than a minute I'll be all out of water
And headed for the border with somebody's daughter
It takes one second to check in and say hi
After everything that happened no time goes by
It's a dream machine everything you see
And you could be whoever you choose to be
Drive easy it's alright The time traveling couch will get you home in time
My mom thought I ruined the couch to get back at her
But I couldn't figure out the Flux Capaciter
This is a vehicle of misperception
Fucked around and accidentally saw my own conception
One suggestion dude you better be sure
I was at Manhattan Island's revolutionary war
With murder on both shores I left in a hurry
Saw Indians with corn on the cob and got worried
I need to get back to reality just relax
But a dude in a top hat keeps swinging an axe
I never should have got mixed up with this damn couch
Then I crashed through the roof I was back at my mom's house
I wanna see Adam West Michael Knight and Bruce Banner
And smoke Cuban Cigars with Fidel in Havana
I wanna play yesterday's lotto so ring the bell
And tell Baby Jessica's parents she's in the well
Evacuate buildings of women and small children
And tell everyone to listen to Nostradames's vision
I go back to the future once every three days
With optimus prime so I could sell it on ebay
I went to Alcatraz got caught in a lock down so what now
I'm writing letters to Doc Brown
I made it out and saw the value of freedom
And now that I'm back to right now I'm not leaving
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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”
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
How about the terrific comic book and pop culture references? What a fun song and a fun artist. I saw him open for Robert Randolph and it was a good time. His cd is also a great album for singing along in the car (which he even says in the lyrics). This can obviously be a song about tripping but I think on another level the song becomes a means of time travel back to all the references he makes and the times each listener associates with them. I know I definately travel back in time when I think of flux capaciters...