"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 took a slow drag off my smoke
I leaned back and I drink my coke
I got approached by a shady bloke
He talked bad but uh, he was broke
I was born in a shadowy world
Wasteland, mean and hard boiled
With tragedies and turmoil
Disenfranchised and disembroiled
Lost files and small filed places
I don't care what color your face is
One day you're gonna lose all traces
And war shit on all men and races
In the city of down and out
Money's always gonna equal clouds
So all along you have to scream and shout
In the city of down and out
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
Give me mine give me all that you've got
Take off your shoes and fork over the pot
I like your chain and I'm needin' the watch
And your girl looks good, she could travel the block
It's all here if you're looking to score
I'm downtown San Pedro at fourth
Everything from the stem to the torch
Then we hang 'em all high for a few dollars more
I said I won't but I bet that I will
So fun your clothes, I suggest that you chill
They all talk about keeping it real
But the second that it pop up let your homeboy squeel
Let it go you ain't ready for drama
Get you sore for trying to wreck my new karma
Ain't cause I want to, it's just that I've gotta'
You know conscience is a motherfucker lock on your daughter
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
And the television's spewing hate
Talking bout the rise of crime ratings
Heard the broke state gonna say it
It's all sinking now and we're way too late
You let this wash it clean
In the heart of Washington
And if he's looking in
What's he gonna do about our machine
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
I leaned back and I drink my coke
I got approached by a shady bloke
He talked bad but uh, he was broke
I was born in a shadowy world
Wasteland, mean and hard boiled
With tragedies and turmoil
Disenfranchised and disembroiled
Lost files and small filed places
I don't care what color your face is
One day you're gonna lose all traces
And war shit on all men and races
In the city of down and out
Money's always gonna equal clouds
So all along you have to scream and shout
In the city of down and out
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
Give me mine give me all that you've got
Take off your shoes and fork over the pot
I like your chain and I'm needin' the watch
And your girl looks good, she could travel the block
It's all here if you're looking to score
I'm downtown San Pedro at fourth
Everything from the stem to the torch
Then we hang 'em all high for a few dollars more
I said I won't but I bet that I will
So fun your clothes, I suggest that you chill
They all talk about keeping it real
But the second that it pop up let your homeboy squeel
Let it go you ain't ready for drama
Get you sore for trying to wreck my new karma
Ain't cause I want to, it's just that I've gotta'
You know conscience is a motherfucker lock on your daughter
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
And the television's spewing hate
Talking bout the rise of crime ratings
Heard the broke state gonna say it
It's all sinking now and we're way too late
You let this wash it clean
In the heart of Washington
And if he's looking in
What's he gonna do about our machine
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
Preacher wants a judgment day
Junkie keeps the world at bay
Policeman wants us obey
Doomsday doomsday
Doomsday doomsday
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
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.
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.
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.
the end sentence is just unforgivable, why did he slurr so much? O.o