"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 live my life walking down the street
Meet the faces of the people I see
All the time I see your reflection
All the time I see your reflection
It's ok to feel alone
It's ok to be alone
All the time I see your reflection
All the time I see your reflection
Cos when I'm with you
It seems so easy
It seems so easy
My best days are with you
They are so easy
They are so easy
Yeah I don't like givin up
Cos givin up is easy
And I'll see you again
Just tell me where you'll meet me
When I'm with you
It seems so easy
It seems so easy
My best days are with you
They are so easy
They are so easy
When I'm with you
It seems so easy
It seems so easy
My best days are with you
They are so easy
They are so easy
Meet the faces of the people I see
All the time I see your reflection
All the time I see your reflection
It's ok to feel alone
It's ok to be alone
All the time I see your reflection
All the time I see your reflection
Cos when I'm with you
It seems so easy
It seems so easy
My best days are with you
They are so easy
They are so easy
Yeah I don't like givin up
Cos givin up is easy
And I'll see you again
Just tell me where you'll meet me
When I'm with you
It seems so easy
It seems so easy
My best days are with you
They are so easy
They are so easy
When I'm with you
It seems so easy
It seems so easy
My best days are with you
They are so easy
They are so easy
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
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”
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Wow!
Lead singer Billy said the inspiration for this song came when he was walking along the same street he did every morning to work where he cleaned dirty laundry.
P.S. The lyrics read:
It's OK to feel alone It's OK to be alone
K I'll change it :).
I freakin love this song
Just got this single: a 7" clear vinyl signed by the band for £3...
Daft.
songs quality especially live
i agree completely :)
great song. makes you feel good.
great tune..i dnt know what its about..but a fantastic song
This song is brilliant live
seems so easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love this song. it's my favourite from an amazing band. it sounded awesome live.