"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.
In the ether, in the ether's air
Would you be there? would you be my friend?
In the morning, in the morning rain
In the binary of a data stream
On an airplane, on a radio
All around me in the ether's flow
Under an orange sun
Running from what I've become
What am I running from?
You can't take a photograph of it at night
It lives in the code of a firefly buzzing
It vibrates through brickwalls, keeping their time
It cuddles the creeping chaos coming
I see it more clearly than ever before
I'm in its invisible river flowing
Through everything I've ever been through before
Heads up, something's really happening
Would you be there? would you be my friend?
In the morning, in the morning rain
In the binary of a data stream
On an airplane, on a radio
All around me in the ether's flow
Under an orange sun
Running from what I've become
What am I running from?
You can't take a photograph of it at night
It lives in the code of a firefly buzzing
It vibrates through brickwalls, keeping their time
It cuddles the creeping chaos coming
I see it more clearly than ever before
I'm in its invisible river flowing
Through everything I've ever been through before
Heads up, something's really happening
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
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.
I'm shocked that no-one has commented on this song. If you didn't know it is a hidden song on the Ether Song album, after Rain City. It is a lovely song, and to me, it means that no matter where you go there is always something positive around you, and that you just have to learn how to look for it.
i havent heard this song for about three years and i just heard it for the first time and was instantly transported back in time to when iwas obsessed with it. my best friend had been the driver of a deadly car accident. i was at the beach in california for 2 months and everyday i lay at the sun-drenched beach listening to this on repeat. it complimented my inner feelings of feeling hopelessly lost and confused and total desperation. it represents everything i don't know...an endless abyss."you can't take a photograph of it at night...through everything i've ever been through before" it signifes one of my darkest moments. its the ultimate contridiction like being lonley while surrounded by friends. I loveit.
You should see them perform this song live. They play it on its own, not after 'Rain City' like in the album. It's so surreal and atmospheric, as there are visuals of blue-ish waves of barley/wheat dancing in the wind, playing on a screen behind them. And Olly's voice - wow, you can really hear the emotion in it when he sings this song live. It constantly reminds me why they're my favourite band ever - can't wait for Dark On Fire, out in September!
This song is amazing, great lyrics, great melody, best song on the album, im not sure what its about but id agree with wilden.