"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 on public assistance
Why don't you get a job?
Sell some dope and buy some pride
It's the only thing you couldn't rob
Socioparasite
How does it feel to live for free?
Get off society's back
Skells like you allowed to live
You wonder why we're taxed
Socioparasite
Getting fucked up on Classon Avenue
Smoking crack and drinking booze
Spike in your arm
No money for food
But there's plenty of gas in your BMW
There's a dopewhore waiting at home
Dealing your shit on the chemophone
Poor Tawana gets born with a birth defect
But it only increases your welfare check
Been doing some thinking and I have an answer
To arrest the spreading cancer
Send you back to where you came from
Get the fuck rid of you (sub)human scum
If you don't pay taxes you shouldn't vote
So get in line and get back on the boat
I'd love to tear down all those projects
Kiss my ass home relief reject
Waste of life
You're a waste of life
Why don't you get a job?
Sell some dope and buy some pride
It's the only thing you couldn't rob
Socioparasite
How does it feel to live for free?
Get off society's back
Skells like you allowed to live
You wonder why we're taxed
Socioparasite
Getting fucked up on Classon Avenue
Smoking crack and drinking booze
Spike in your arm
No money for food
But there's plenty of gas in your BMW
There's a dopewhore waiting at home
Dealing your shit on the chemophone
Poor Tawana gets born with a birth defect
But it only increases your welfare check
Been doing some thinking and I have an answer
To arrest the spreading cancer
Send you back to where you came from
Get the fuck rid of you (sub)human scum
If you don't pay taxes you shouldn't vote
So get in line and get back on the boat
I'd love to tear down all those projects
Kiss my ass home relief reject
Waste of life
You're a waste of life
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
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.
There's no denying the racist content in this song. However, with Peter Steele, you have to take it with a pinch of salt.
Considerated the theme of the other songs of this album, I don't think Steele is angry against people on pubblic assistance becouse of racism or political reasons. I read that Steele wrote the lyrics of the album after the end of a relation. In the previous song (Unsuccessfully Coping etc...) it's obvious he should enormously depend on this relation. He is angry with the people of the song only becouse he is angry with himself and sees in them his own defect: dependence. References at drug addiction are also present and I think it's not casual.
The best take on the song right there.
oh just so happens most social scum isn't white (NOW THAT'S FUCKING RACIST) LOL.
You are being disingenuous when you deny that this song takes a positive, pro-White racist's stance. That is exactly what it is, and it is done flawlessly. IYDKMIGTHTKY (Gimme dat) is another fine piece of neo-hate recruiting material.<br /> What Peter was trying to accomplish with the music was for you, the listener, to become freed; from a self-imposed exile. Each of us goes for the ride, some never come back, others come back, feeling alive again, with a sense of urgency to do your best at managing your family.<br /> He found in me one convert.
When you call a human being something other than human, it is a mandate for murder. The fact that so many are giving him a pass is really revealing, isn't it... Subhumans is what the nazis called Jews, Slavs, Romani, the disabled, gays, and anyone else who wasn't a western European christian. When you call someone on disability/welfare "scum", you sound just like a brownshirt. Saying "Peter Steele wasn't racist, because he had a Jewish friend", is exactly like saying, "I'm not racist. I have a black friend"...
No it isn't. I think the meaning is pretty obvious.
Okay, that really irritates me when people go out of their way to find something racist. He's just being completely honest with people about their social dependence. And I tell you, there are white people on welfare too, not just ethnic minorities. This song is OBVIOUSLY about those on welfare who don't help society and who don't try to improve themselves. There are some people who really need to be on welfare, but others are just draining the system. And he's right, if you don't pay taxes, why should you be allowed to vote? Think about it. It affects everyone.
Very well said...
"Der Untermensch" means "the lower person", the opposite of "Der Ubermensch" ("the higher person") a term which I think was coined by Kafka to describe the great few who can actually make it through life. The title makes sense then, as the song is describing the scum of society. Pretty clever.
Germany called slavic people "untermensch" during WWII too, also.
Der Übermensch is NIETSCHEs idea!!! Anyway this song expresses what I feel everyday sitting in the metro going to work and back.
Send you back to where you came from Get the fuck rid of you (sub)human scum
Fuck for political corectness!!!!!
Yeah. The song isn't racist at all. I know plenty of white people called Tawana who should go back where they came from (merry old England).
At the same time this song may be highly ironic which is personally what I think.
Maybe he accidently took a flight to the South and was inspired!
Name one line in this song that implies racism against anyone. There isn't.