"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.
When I'm lying in your bed
Play the motions through my head
You know that I'm thinking, I'm thinking
And I have reasons to believe
That I'm not the only one you spend this time with
But I'll stay
You say,
You're weak,
You won't let me down,
You won't let me down
You lied,
Through your teeth,
You smiled in your sleep,
You smile in your sleep
When we met
You said that we were the same
You know that we're different,
We're different
And all those time you promised me that
Everything would work out in the end
You were gravely mistaken
You say,
You're weak
You won't let me down,
You won't let me down
You lied,
Through your teeth
You smiled in your sleep,
You smile in your sleep
You lied
You lied
You lied
You lied
You lied,
Through your teeth
You won't let me down
You lied,
I deserve better then this
I dream of steel
Maroon and warm
Your end (Your end)
Your end (Your end)
You gasp for air
I'll see this through
I'll see through you
You're pale (You're pale)
You're pale (You're pale)
You're pale
Blue eyes
When your lying in your bed,
Your eulogy's been read,
You know that it's fitting
You lied
You say
Your weak
You wont let me down
You wont let me down
You lied
Through your teeth
You smiled in your sleep
You smile in your sleep
You smile
You smile
You smile
You smile
I deserve better than this
Play the motions through my head
You know that I'm thinking, I'm thinking
And I have reasons to believe
That I'm not the only one you spend this time with
But I'll stay
You say,
You're weak,
You won't let me down,
You won't let me down
You lied,
Through your teeth,
You smiled in your sleep,
You smile in your sleep
When we met
You said that we were the same
You know that we're different,
We're different
And all those time you promised me that
Everything would work out in the end
You were gravely mistaken
You say,
You're weak
You won't let me down,
You won't let me down
You lied,
Through your teeth
You smiled in your sleep,
You smile in your sleep
You lied
You lied
You lied
You lied
You lied,
Through your teeth
You won't let me down
You lied,
I deserve better then this
I dream of steel
Maroon and warm
Your end (Your end)
Your end (Your end)
You gasp for air
I'll see this through
I'll see through you
You're pale (You're pale)
You're pale (You're pale)
You're pale
Blue eyes
When your lying in your bed,
Your eulogy's been read,
You know that it's fitting
You lied
You say
Your weak
You wont let me down
You wont let me down
You lied
Through your teeth
You smiled in your sleep
You smile in your sleep
You smile
You smile
You smile
You smile
I deserve better than this
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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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
To quote the band.. "The song, Smile In Your Sleep is a dark song about jealousy, deception and ultimately murder."
To me, the narrator of this song becomes so heartbroken by his lover that he eventually kills him / her, thus the metaphor of 'smiling in their sleep'.