"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.
Yeah,
It’s so hard to remain authentic
Everything around me is changing,
Even the earth is moving in 2 different places in outer space
But..
One thing remains the same..
till the end of time
I think I’ll remain,
I think I’ll just stay…
A B-Boy standin in my B-Boy stance (x8)
From the top of the highest summit, again we run it.
A hundred and forty four shimmering lights stunnin
to quick for the human eye to catch a glimpse
You know pimps cannot convince with bigger attempts of emcee’in,
blowing word to the wind,
While we conscend to limit the sins and pretend
We’re still human, when if fact were only half, the other path extends infinity do the math
I try to laugh, but they pull me down like crabs in a bucket
With hands in my pocket, I don’t really laugh
Heaven only knows, the ???? keeps invading the flows that turns black pros
To white foes… Your just supposin have you heard my words moving at light speed and getting blurred. It’s all so incredible decibles at glance standing in a b-stance
This one leads the way…
Now cut it up, cut it up back to back, on the wheels of steel, cut it up back to back
Elevate, Meditate, eliminate-thoughts from my past keep knocking upon my gate
Shouldn’t let em in, the answers not to debate
But to observe the debating and then we can understate
Yo party people listen up at the drop of dime,
They took cameras to africa for pictures to rhyme
Over old.. yes, the great pretenders
Religeous entertainers who want to be life savers
Damn.. another dollar for the mind, another cold ??? hoping
They can’t find, they can’t copy or get pictures with no lines,
I guess it’s just a case of the blind leading the blind
But, I’m flippin and steppin and rockin the roll, take the control
Payin my tolls, whose in control?
I’m playin a roll so people will remember that
I’m just a servent of rap, hopin to bring it back
It’s so hard to remain authentic
Everything around me is changing,
Even the earth is moving in 2 different places in outer space
But..
One thing remains the same..
till the end of time
I think I’ll remain,
I think I’ll just stay…
A B-Boy standin in my B-Boy stance (x8)
From the top of the highest summit, again we run it.
A hundred and forty four shimmering lights stunnin
to quick for the human eye to catch a glimpse
You know pimps cannot convince with bigger attempts of emcee’in,
blowing word to the wind,
While we conscend to limit the sins and pretend
We’re still human, when if fact were only half, the other path extends infinity do the math
I try to laugh, but they pull me down like crabs in a bucket
With hands in my pocket, I don’t really laugh
Heaven only knows, the ???? keeps invading the flows that turns black pros
To white foes… Your just supposin have you heard my words moving at light speed and getting blurred. It’s all so incredible decibles at glance standing in a b-stance
This one leads the way…
Now cut it up, cut it up back to back, on the wheels of steel, cut it up back to back
Elevate, Meditate, eliminate-thoughts from my past keep knocking upon my gate
Shouldn’t let em in, the answers not to debate
But to observe the debating and then we can understate
Yo party people listen up at the drop of dime,
They took cameras to africa for pictures to rhyme
Over old.. yes, the great pretenders
Religeous entertainers who want to be life savers
Damn.. another dollar for the mind, another cold ??? hoping
They can’t find, they can’t copy or get pictures with no lines,
I guess it’s just a case of the blind leading the blind
But, I’m flippin and steppin and rockin the roll, take the control
Payin my tolls, whose in control?
I’m playin a roll so people will remember that
I’m just a servent of rap, hopin to bring it back
Lyrics submitted by Polish91
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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
Great song! I don't have a b-boy stance though, I got a m-man stance HAHAHAHAHA!
"They took cameras to africa for pictures to rhyme Over old.. yes, the great pretenders Religeous entertainers who want to be life savers"
Is apparently about Somali-Canadian rapper K'naan, who flew to Africa to film his first video "Soobax". Shame really, I don't see what he did to deserve being berated.
He didn't do anything. My guess would be that K-OS was trying to pick a fight with him solely because feuds between rappers were stylish at the time and good for publicity. lol Seriously. K-OS' music took a nose dive after this album for me. I still liked Hymns for Atlantis for many of the songs, but mostly for the sound and less for the lyrics. Lyrically he's repetitive and most of the time he's just throwing a bunch of words around without actually saying anything. It's sort of disappointing because this album was so excellent. :(
That's just my opinion anyway. lol
This is the song that started it all... The song that got me hooked on this guy. xD
This is the song that started it all... The song that got me hooked on this guy. xD
the line busting on k'naan is unecessary. joyful rebellion gets annoying after awhile just cuz of all the insults. atlantis is much better.