"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've been living it my way
I've been living it for myself
It's the things that you don't say
About the way that I know you've felt
Everything right in my eyes
Two are one and as a whole
Pour yourself into my life
Can't feel without your soul
Say that you'll find no one else
I pray that you find nothing
To tarnish the shine on what we've built
Beneath you and I
Living our lives
Evergreen
I've been given the one thing
I've been given the greatest gift
I've been sheltered on my way
Covered by all you give
Greater good shines in my sky
I bathe in its precious glow
Grounded in the heart of life
I've got something that can grow
Say that you'll find no one else
I pray that you find nothing
To tarnish the shine on what we've built
Beneath you and I
Not affected by the ever changing world around us
We're protected by the things we share so deep inside us
Say that you'll stay
We'll stay evergreen
Evergreen
Say that you'll find no one else
I pray that you find nothing
To tarnish the shine on what we've built
Beneath you and I
Living our lives
Evergreen
I've been living it for myself
It's the things that you don't say
About the way that I know you've felt
Everything right in my eyes
Two are one and as a whole
Pour yourself into my life
Can't feel without your soul
Say that you'll find no one else
I pray that you find nothing
To tarnish the shine on what we've built
Beneath you and I
Living our lives
Evergreen
I've been given the one thing
I've been given the greatest gift
I've been sheltered on my way
Covered by all you give
Greater good shines in my sky
I bathe in its precious glow
Grounded in the heart of life
I've got something that can grow
Say that you'll find no one else
I pray that you find nothing
To tarnish the shine on what we've built
Beneath you and I
Not affected by the ever changing world around us
We're protected by the things we share so deep inside us
Say that you'll stay
We'll stay evergreen
Evergreen
Say that you'll find no one else
I pray that you find nothing
To tarnish the shine on what we've built
Beneath you and I
Living our lives
Evergreen
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Fast Car
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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”
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Actually... the lyrics nowhere imply that a relationship has ended. Everything is in the present, as if the relationship still exists. It is more about someone insecure in a relationship he that doesn't want to ever go sour. He can't imagine her with someone else and just wants it all to work out. He is trying to hold on to the magic: "We'll stay evergreen" meaning that their relationship will not be tarnished and remain pure.
Both versions of this song are absolutely brilliant.
I think its about a relationship that he knew was what he wanted and needed but it went sour and hes just hoping that she'll realize they were meant for eachother and she doesn't find anyone or anything to say otherwise and they get back together
I agree with mattezyk on the meaning of the song. It is about a relationship that ended and he knows they're meant to be and that underneath all the BS it's still "evergreen" and perfect.
BTW, I highly recommend that people get the Black Porch Acoustic Sessions album. It's 6 songs: Breakdown, Brother, Evergreen, Follow the Sun Down, Free, and Storm. It's amazing and I find that some of the songs are more powerful on this album than on Twleve Year Silence.
will young spoiled this title for me.
GilliganX is absolutely right. This song has to do with insecurity, the hope someone will stay with this person and be faithful til the end of their lives. Thus, Evergreen is implying the point of death, hopefully with this loved one still at their side. Evergreen is often associated with death and renewal of life.