"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.
Let's make this a night to remember
Let's forget
All the times we spent together
Let's run with our eyes closed
Because I suppose
That some dreams are meant to be broken
Let's runaway
Cause I don't know how to say this anyway
We don't believe in anything
We believe in yesterday
And she remembers
All the pain and heartache
Let's make this a night to remember
Let's close down
All the roads we drove on together
Let's hop the next train
Cause we can't regain
What's been lost in these lives
In this small town
Lock the door
Cause I don't need to be
In this place anymore
Let's forget
All the times we spent together
Let's run with our eyes closed
Because I suppose
That some dreams are meant to be broken
Let's runaway
Cause I don't know how to say this anyway
We don't believe in anything
We believe in yesterday
And she remembers
All the pain and heartache
Let's make this a night to remember
Let's close down
All the roads we drove on together
Let's hop the next train
Cause we can't regain
What's been lost in these lives
In this small town
Lock the door
Cause I don't need to be
In this place anymore
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Holiday
Bee Gees
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@[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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
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“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.
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.
To me this song is living in the moment in fear of what the future will bring. They just want to be free, and have a night where they dont have to worry about anything but the love the share and the fun they are having.