"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.
You know I am token
And smoking that Durban poison
It is always potent
And this shit just got my coastin
Puts in me motion
Like I’m floatin on the ocean
Making magic potion
You really thought I was jokin?
Shit that I be spittin always be so corrosive
As if it could be so motherfucking repulsive
Hiding thee explosives all up in the cosmoses
Cause you just an opp like your name was Osmosis
Can you feel my energy when I walk through the door?
An aura so overwhelming they're dropping to the floor
And they watch as I shadow step
SHADOW STEP
Skeet and yeet
On they feet
Coming with fleet
Put you all to sleep
You a sheep
Knee deep
Always plea
For some free
But pay no fee
Get off my D
You like flea
Always flee
Better miss me
Wit that shit
Little bitch
I’m already in the dirt but you keep beating me down
In the state of mind where I want to put a rope around
My neck
Guess it’s for the best and for the rest of the pest that chill in my desk
Gas in my chest to relieve stress thats in my head
They roam around by my bed waiting for the day that I’m dead
Cause now they all stupid mad at the things I have said
You should know that I’m always down
You should know that im aiming for that crown
You should know that there’s no fucks given
You should know Im banned from heaven
Can you feel my energy when I walk through the door?
An aura so overwhelming they're dropping to the floor
And they watch as I shadow step
SHADOW STEP
And smoking that Durban poison
It is always potent
And this shit just got my coastin
Puts in me motion
Like I’m floatin on the ocean
Making magic potion
You really thought I was jokin?
Shit that I be spittin always be so corrosive
As if it could be so motherfucking repulsive
Hiding thee explosives all up in the cosmoses
Cause you just an opp like your name was Osmosis
Can you feel my energy when I walk through the door?
An aura so overwhelming they're dropping to the floor
And they watch as I shadow step
SHADOW STEP
Skeet and yeet
On they feet
Coming with fleet
Put you all to sleep
You a sheep
Knee deep
Always plea
For some free
But pay no fee
Get off my D
You like flea
Always flee
Better miss me
Wit that shit
Little bitch
I’m already in the dirt but you keep beating me down
In the state of mind where I want to put a rope around
My neck
Guess it’s for the best and for the rest of the pest that chill in my desk
Gas in my chest to relieve stress thats in my head
They roam around by my bed waiting for the day that I’m dead
Cause now they all stupid mad at the things I have said
You should know that I’m always down
You should know that im aiming for that crown
You should know that there’s no fucks given
You should know Im banned from heaven
Can you feel my energy when I walk through the door?
An aura so overwhelming they're dropping to the floor
And they watch as I shadow step
SHADOW STEP
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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”
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
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.
I think it's about a fight. I envisage a couple, and these words are from the viewpoint of the passive player. And they're just stewing on what has been said, knowing that all the hurt and anger is building inside of them.
First verse - could be referring to their children and how they seem to be oblivious to the war that is going on in their parents' relationship.
Chorus is pretty self explanatory - everything the other person says sticks around and is affecting all parts of this person's life.
"I'm the walrus darling No-one ever knows my name"
The term 'darling' sounds affectionate, yet sarcastic. As if they are singing it to their partner but they're actually quite pissed off.
"You are the chorus sweet thing Never sing that song again"
This is like a threat to the partner; like you'd better stop soon or else.
Plus the general angsty sorta feel to the song.
Just my interpretation.