"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 got me all screwed up
So much I can't turn 'round
And I've been running about with some funny girls
I'm not so tough
But if you let me down (I'll tell ya)
I'd give you just one day to explain
I'd like to know if there's somebody else in this game
Say it isn't so (tell me I'm the only one)
Say it isn't so (without you I can't go on)
How was I to know if you keep me guessing I don't understand
I can't sleep at night
I keep on dreaming you're gone
I'm staring into a space that was filled by your face
Facing the day
A face in the crowd
I'm sure I saw you just a moment ago
There must be something you don't want me to know
Say it isn't so (you've got the magic touch)
Say it isn't so (one thing I need so much)
How was I to know
If you keep me guessing I don't understand
There's something wrong, suspicion's getting stronger
Don't know if I can stand this pain much longer
You play around but I see right through you
It's lonely on the streets when it's just one A.M.
See a lot of pretty girls passing by
I'm walking in the midnight sun once again
And now I know why love is so blind
'Cause when you're out of my sight
I'm out of your mind
Say it isn't so (tell me I'm the only one)
Say it isn't so (without you I can't go on)
How was I to know if you keep me guessing I don't understand
Say it isn't so (you've got the magic touch)
Say it isn't so (one thing I need so much)
Say it isn't so (tell me I'm the only one)
Say it isn't so (without you I can't go on)
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
So much I can't turn 'round
And I've been running about with some funny girls
I'm not so tough
But if you let me down (I'll tell ya)
I'd give you just one day to explain
I'd like to know if there's somebody else in this game
Say it isn't so (tell me I'm the only one)
Say it isn't so (without you I can't go on)
How was I to know if you keep me guessing I don't understand
I can't sleep at night
I keep on dreaming you're gone
I'm staring into a space that was filled by your face
Facing the day
A face in the crowd
I'm sure I saw you just a moment ago
There must be something you don't want me to know
Say it isn't so (you've got the magic touch)
Say it isn't so (one thing I need so much)
How was I to know
If you keep me guessing I don't understand
There's something wrong, suspicion's getting stronger
Don't know if I can stand this pain much longer
You play around but I see right through you
It's lonely on the streets when it's just one A.M.
See a lot of pretty girls passing by
I'm walking in the midnight sun once again
And now I know why love is so blind
'Cause when you're out of my sight
I'm out of your mind
Say it isn't so (tell me I'm the only one)
Say it isn't so (without you I can't go on)
How was I to know if you keep me guessing I don't understand
Say it isn't so (you've got the magic touch)
Say it isn't so (one thing I need so much)
Say it isn't so (tell me I'm the only one)
Say it isn't so (without you I can't go on)
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
Say it isn't so
Lyrics submitted by unfocusedmind
Say It Isn't So Lyrics as written by John Fredrick Spinks
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
I was thinking the exact same thing Cardiff Giant was thinking. Good call, old bean!
Great song, also.
LOL:) I love this vocals on this more the anything.
Wow can't believe no one has commented on this one yet. To me, it's a bout a girl who is cheating on her boyfriend but he doesn't know about it yet. He has a feeling that she's messing around but he doesn't know for sure. Due to his suspicions, he's tempted to get with other women but he doesn't since he's not sure if she's cheating on him or not. In the end he's stuck, he's not sure it's over with the girl he loves so he doesn't get himself out there trying to find someone else.
i think...
the guy isn't really in a relationship with the girl yet, and he thinks something is there but he isn't sure if the girl feels the same way. he thinks that when he's not there, she doesn't care about him or think about him at all. the girl is kinda leading him on ("if you keep me guessing, i don't understand"), but he isn't sure if the girl wants HIM. he's tired of it and he's giving her one day to explain what the heck she feels about him.
They're dating but they are not exclusive to each other. He wants them wants to be exclusive but isn't sure that she feels the same. Since he can't work up the courage (perhaps this is the first time he's really felt something for someone) he is trapped by his own indecision.