"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.
I am deliriously cold hearted
Maybe I mean cold emotionally
Carrying a tote bag and letting my hope drag in a trail behind me
Wow! This is domestic traveling
And I don't mean to be unraveling my ball of problems all over your leaning shoulder
Wow! Deliriously colder
Wow! Why does philosophy eat philosophy and I'll sloppily have a talk with me
I probably have a lot to see and nothing to say in an irregular way
But that's just enough about me let's talk about me hanging out with a girl named Sally
(Speaking of) But my love's a party of one
At least I'm stable without any fun
It's like running in circles or running in squares
Or visiting twin Earth where green is blue but who cares
Not I said the simple sentence
Which in a sense is saying pop rock is not dead
I am deliriously cold hearted
Maybe I mean cold emotionally
This is serious cause I forgot how to have fun again
Shock
The sky's unlimited they got cute stuff
He's her guinea pig must be true love
And oh sure I know your so hard core
Involved in all of the socialite weights good flight rates to find dates
fifty states which may creates many breaks and hears ache double take
may re-make a marriage great
Wow! Spontaneous to fake you out
He or she should have taken him or her out
And discuss why there is no us
And shoot the breeze why there is no we
We will seek thrills in our fantasies but too much time killed in la la land
In demand of supply and dependent without knowing why bother
I can't seem to or wan to stop
i got to hand some strange genes down to my handsome son or daughter
Who are at this time just a thought in the back of my mind I opt not to yet
The thought is unstoppable probable profitable
In every way but my pocketbook
Bearable abominable karma comical
possible cause is jellyfish
Random
Pandemonium only when freedom is seen as just for your enjoyment
Furthermore is for your enjoyment
Furthermore is for your enjoyment
Maybe I mean cold emotionally
Carrying a tote bag and letting my hope drag in a trail behind me
Wow! This is domestic traveling
And I don't mean to be unraveling my ball of problems all over your leaning shoulder
Wow! Deliriously colder
Wow! Why does philosophy eat philosophy and I'll sloppily have a talk with me
I probably have a lot to see and nothing to say in an irregular way
But that's just enough about me let's talk about me hanging out with a girl named Sally
(Speaking of) But my love's a party of one
At least I'm stable without any fun
It's like running in circles or running in squares
Or visiting twin Earth where green is blue but who cares
Not I said the simple sentence
Which in a sense is saying pop rock is not dead
I am deliriously cold hearted
Maybe I mean cold emotionally
This is serious cause I forgot how to have fun again
Shock
The sky's unlimited they got cute stuff
He's her guinea pig must be true love
And oh sure I know your so hard core
Involved in all of the socialite weights good flight rates to find dates
fifty states which may creates many breaks and hears ache double take
may re-make a marriage great
Wow! Spontaneous to fake you out
He or she should have taken him or her out
And discuss why there is no us
And shoot the breeze why there is no we
We will seek thrills in our fantasies but too much time killed in la la land
In demand of supply and dependent without knowing why bother
I can't seem to or wan to stop
i got to hand some strange genes down to my handsome son or daughter
Who are at this time just a thought in the back of my mind I opt not to yet
The thought is unstoppable probable profitable
In every way but my pocketbook
Bearable abominable karma comical
possible cause is jellyfish
Random
Pandemonium only when freedom is seen as just for your enjoyment
Furthermore is for your enjoyment
Furthermore is for your enjoyment
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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”
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
when you put your faith and trust in earthly things, you're bound to fall... ie: don't depend on people or things to make you happy... be happy because you're loved by God.