"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.
Someone always gets their hearts stomped to the ground
And this is what I think every time I look around
I never thought that this would happen to me
I never thought that I'll end up this way
And now that you're through with me
Don't know what to do with me
I guess I'm my own again
Like I'm some kind of enemy
Never a friend to me
Remember when you used to say
These things will always be this way
Why don't you, break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
Now I'm trying to get my heart up off the ground
My confidence is gone
Happiness can not be found
So look what you did to me
You got the best of me
And now I'm stuck with all the rest
It will never be the same
Why don't you, break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
Break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
All I ever wanted
Has left me standing here alone
It started with you and ended with me
All I ever needed
I had it with you in my arms
It started with you and ended with me
Break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
Why don't you, break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
Why don't you, break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
Why don't you, break my heart
Break my heart
Break my heart
Break my heart
Break my heart
Break my heart
Break my heart
And this is what I think every time I look around
I never thought that this would happen to me
I never thought that I'll end up this way
And now that you're through with me
Don't know what to do with me
I guess I'm my own again
Like I'm some kind of enemy
Never a friend to me
Remember when you used to say
These things will always be this way
Why don't you, break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
Now I'm trying to get my heart up off the ground
My confidence is gone
Happiness can not be found
So look what you did to me
You got the best of me
And now I'm stuck with all the rest
It will never be the same
Why don't you, break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
Break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
All I ever wanted
Has left me standing here alone
It started with you and ended with me
All I ever needed
I had it with you in my arms
It started with you and ended with me
Break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
Why don't you, break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
Why don't you, break my heart
Watch me fall apart you see
I'm falling apart, look what you're doing to me
Why don't you, break my heart
Break my heart
Break my heart
Break my heart
Break my heart
Break my heart
Break my heart
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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.
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I finally figured out with this song means!! ITS ALL ABOUT SMOKING WEED!!! (Please keep in mind that hearing your own heartbeat is a symptom of marijuana. I will commentate in the parenthesis)
To the beat of my To the beat of my To the beat of my heart (She hears her heartbeat)
I'm thinking about, Letting it out. (She's contemplating letting the smoke out) I wanna give in, I wanna go out.(She wants to give into the temptation to smoke) Been looking around I've finally found, The rhythm of love, The feeling of sound. (She's found a dealer who will give her some GOOD SHIT) It's making a change, The feeling is strange.(The weed is taking effect) It's coming right back. Right back in my range.(The high is rushing back from the night before) Not worried about anything else,(all she cares about is smoking I'm waking up
To the beat of my, To the beat of my, To the beat of my heart.
[Chorus:] The beat of my heart, The beat of my heart, The beat of my heart, It tears us apart. The beat of my heart, The beat of my heart, The beat of my heart, Now I'm back to the start.(She came down) To the beat of my, To the beat of my, To the beat of my heart,
I'm up from my down. (she's got high again I turn it around. I'm making it back, I'm not gonna drown.(she's all paranoid from the weed) I'm taking a stance. I won't miss a chance. I want you to see I'm not scared to dance.(Basically she's trippin out)
The way that you feel Could never be real.(the drug is making her question reality) I want you to know I finished the deal.(telling her bf that she finished the drug deal) So I'm sayin to you I'll always be true. To the rhythm inside,(she's down for the drug always)
To the beat of my, To the beat of my, To the beat of my heart,
[Chorus]
Away Away, Away Away, Away Away, Away Away, Away Away, Away Away,(now she's so sick of being high and she wants it to go AWAY AWAY To the beat of my, To the beat of my heart, Away Away, Away Away, To the beat of my, To the beat of my heart,
The beat of my heart, The beat of my heart, The beat of my heart, It tears us apart, The beat of my heart, The beat of my heart, The beat of my heart, Now I'm back to the start,
[Chorus]
Away Away, Away Away, To the beat of my, To the beat of my heart, Away Away, Away Away, To the beat of my, To the beat of my heart.