"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.
(It's Hell time, man, It's Hell time, man)
(It's Hell time, man, It's Hell time, man)
Down these streets the fools rule
There’s no freedom or self respect
A knife’s point or a trip to the joint
Is about all you can expect
They kill people here who stand
Up for their rights
The system’s just too damned corrupt
It’s always the same, the name of the game
Is who do you know higher up well
(It's Hell time, man, It's Hell time, man)
(It's Hell time, man, It's Hell time, man)
The blacks and the whites
Steal the other kids’ lives
Wealth is a filthy rag
So erotic so unpatriotic
So wrapped up in the American flag
The witchcraft scum exploiting the dumb
Turns children into crooks and slaves
Whose heroes and healers are
Real stoned dealers
Who should be put in their graves
Tell the truth now!
(It's Hell time, man)
Well, lookie here, honey
(It's Hell time, man, It's Hell time, man)
(It's Hell time, man)
Listen to me Mr pusherman
This might be your last night
In a bed so soft
There are pimps on the make
Politicians on the take you can’t pay us off
We’re gonna blow up your home of Voodoo
And watch it burn without any regret
We got the power, we’re the new government
You just don’t know it yet
Help me now!
(It's Hell time, man)
Ah, bring it to me honey
(It's Hell time, man)
For all of my brothers from Vietnam
And my uncles from World War I I
I’ve got to say that it’s countdown time now
We’re gonna do what the law should do
And for you pretty baby
I know you've seen it all
I know your story is too painful to share
One day though you'll be
Talking in your sleep
And when you do, I wanna be there
Yeah!
(It's Hell time, man) be strong, baby
(It's Hell time, man) won't take long, baby
(Band of the hand) ah, let me tell you now
(It's Hell time, man) the war is here, honey
(Band of the hand) ah, go ahead now
(It's Hell time, man) be strong, baby
(Band of the hand) it won't be long, honey
(It's Hell time, man) be strong, baby
(It's Hell time, man, It's Hell time, man)
Down these streets the fools rule
There’s no freedom or self respect
A knife’s point or a trip to the joint
Is about all you can expect
They kill people here who stand
Up for their rights
The system’s just too damned corrupt
It’s always the same, the name of the game
Is who do you know higher up well
(It's Hell time, man, It's Hell time, man)
(It's Hell time, man, It's Hell time, man)
The blacks and the whites
Steal the other kids’ lives
Wealth is a filthy rag
So erotic so unpatriotic
So wrapped up in the American flag
The witchcraft scum exploiting the dumb
Turns children into crooks and slaves
Whose heroes and healers are
Real stoned dealers
Who should be put in their graves
Tell the truth now!
(It's Hell time, man)
Well, lookie here, honey
(It's Hell time, man, It's Hell time, man)
(It's Hell time, man)
Listen to me Mr pusherman
This might be your last night
In a bed so soft
There are pimps on the make
Politicians on the take you can’t pay us off
We’re gonna blow up your home of Voodoo
And watch it burn without any regret
We got the power, we’re the new government
You just don’t know it yet
Help me now!
(It's Hell time, man)
Ah, bring it to me honey
(It's Hell time, man)
For all of my brothers from Vietnam
And my uncles from World War I I
I’ve got to say that it’s countdown time now
We’re gonna do what the law should do
And for you pretty baby
I know you've seen it all
I know your story is too painful to share
One day though you'll be
Talking in your sleep
And when you do, I wanna be there
Yeah!
(It's Hell time, man) be strong, baby
(It's Hell time, man) won't take long, baby
(Band of the hand) ah, let me tell you now
(It's Hell time, man) the war is here, honey
(Band of the hand) ah, go ahead now
(It's Hell time, man) be strong, baby
(Band of the hand) it won't be long, honey
(It's Hell time, man) be strong, baby
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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.
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/
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.
I haven't heard the song but these are some might fine lyrics. Mighty, mighty fine.
The song is indeed intended for the film, "Band Of The Hand", and it does fit it rather well (although, this song would not have been out of place on Empire Burlesque either). It's a shame the soundtrack is so hard to find anymore. It was a damn sight better than the movie.
I've never heard this song before, but (and this is probably one of the only times I've said this about a Dylan song before) the lyrics sound-- how should i say this-- dumb. These lyrics are really amateurish. They seem as though, like, some high school punk band wrote these or something. Nevertheless, Dylan is amazing and since I haven't even heard the song yet, I guess I could be wrong...
Written for the movie "Band Of The Hand", so I'm guessing the lyrics are inspired by the plot of the movie. Or maybe I'm just trying to excuse one of Dylan's most awful lyrics.