"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.
Baby, although I chose this lonely life
It seems it's strangling me now
All the wild men, big cigars, gigantic car
They're all laughing at the lie
Oh, I've been used, ouuh
I've been a fool oh, what a fool
I broke all the rules oh, yeah
But I must let the show go on
Baby, there's an enormous crowd of people
They're all after my blood
I wish maybe they'd tear down the walls of this theater
Let me out, let me out
Oh, I'm so blind oh, I'm blind
I wasted time wasted, wasted, wasted time
Walking on the wire, high wire
But I must let the show go on
Oh, I'm so blind oh, I'm blind
I wasted time wasted, wasted, all too much time
Walking on the wire, high wire
But I must let the show go on
Baby, I wish you'd help me escape
Help me get away
Leave me outside my address
Far away from this masquerade
'Cause I've been blind oh, so blind
I wasted time wasted, wasted, all too much time
Walking on the wire, high wire
But I must let the show go
I must let the show go
I must let the show go on
It seems it's strangling me now
All the wild men, big cigars, gigantic car
They're all laughing at the lie
Oh, I've been used, ouuh
I've been a fool oh, what a fool
I broke all the rules oh, yeah
But I must let the show go on
Baby, there's an enormous crowd of people
They're all after my blood
I wish maybe they'd tear down the walls of this theater
Let me out, let me out
Oh, I'm so blind oh, I'm blind
I wasted time wasted, wasted, wasted time
Walking on the wire, high wire
But I must let the show go on
Oh, I'm so blind oh, I'm blind
I wasted time wasted, wasted, all too much time
Walking on the wire, high wire
But I must let the show go on
Baby, I wish you'd help me escape
Help me get away
Leave me outside my address
Far away from this masquerade
'Cause I've been blind oh, so blind
I wasted time wasted, wasted, all too much time
Walking on the wire, high wire
But I must let the show go
I must let the show go
I must let the show go on
Lyrics submitted by ups_and_downs
The Show Must Go On Lyrics as written by John Deacon Roger Taylor
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
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.
It's about show business and all the troubles that it bring. It's how fans treat celebrities; how they don't care about the feelings of the star, they just want to be entertain. Celebrities feel like circus performers and that they are just a product to be served to the fans. But the star knows its their job and the "show must go on". It reminds me of Elvis. He could not live a normal life. The fans wanted more and Elvis had to keep performing for the crowd. Celebrities need a break too.
I don't think this song is about show biz at all. If you listen it is about somebody who feels his life is but a circus to bemuse people and the riddicule that you feel because of it. There's the feeling you can't escape always sending veiled plees for help. But no matter what you have to dust yourself off and let the show go on. go to my mixtape for more insight.
@pirate87 I agree. Your explanation makes perfect sense.
Ha, this song kicks ass, seems to be about a guy that has a gf and becomes a big celeb and realizes he should have never chose the "rich life" over his gf, and now wishes he wasnt part of the "rich life" so he could just spend time with his gf, but cant because he "must let the show go on", that might be wrong but thats my guess on what this is about. Anyways you should see the reactions i get when i blare this in my car, lol classic!
This is one of the greatest songs, you haven't really listened to this song until you've 'listened' to this song
"Scifiboy2002" I get what your saying... I believe it's got woman involved. He cause fame, fortune, & "the good life" over a good woman. Years have done by and he realized what he has lost... He is singing this song to the woman and telling her, "The Show Must Go On".