"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.
Here we are, come see us driving in your car.
In the morning's dim, break it off with him.
You said something there. Something throws me from my chair.
I refuse to talk this hour, 'cause I don't need this now.
You're a sure thing, but I know
I don't need this now.
You're an old friend we both know
I could take you out.
And last night I did something that I don't wanna hear.
Bring your sister out, we'll be leaving now.
And I punched upset, and it's buzzing in my ear.
Bring your sister out, we'll be leaving now.
You're a sure thing but I know
You can count me out.
You're an old friend. We both know
I could take you out.
I see it now. I see it slow, I see it now. I see it now.
Here we are, come see us filing in my car and take a spin
Break it off with him.
He says something there. Something throws me from my chair.
Bring your sister out, we'll be leaving now.
You're a sure thing but I know
You can count me out.
You're an old friend. We both know
I could take you out.
In the morning's dim, break it off with him.
You said something there. Something throws me from my chair.
I refuse to talk this hour, 'cause I don't need this now.
You're a sure thing, but I know
I don't need this now.
You're an old friend we both know
I could take you out.
And last night I did something that I don't wanna hear.
Bring your sister out, we'll be leaving now.
And I punched upset, and it's buzzing in my ear.
Bring your sister out, we'll be leaving now.
You're a sure thing but I know
You can count me out.
You're an old friend. We both know
I could take you out.
I see it now. I see it slow, I see it now. I see it now.
Here we are, come see us filing in my car and take a spin
Break it off with him.
He says something there. Something throws me from my chair.
Bring your sister out, we'll be leaving now.
You're a sure thing but I know
You can count me out.
You're an old friend. We both know
I could take you out.
Lyrics submitted by beatseeker, edited by karritevoyager
My Old Man Lyrics as written by Matthew Frederick Barrick James Hamilton Leithauser
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I can't believe no one has commented on this brilliant piece yet. lol.
I see it this way
With the entire break up concept bows + arrows brought to the table. "My Old Man" is the part where he knows his ex has a new boyfriend and he had found out the night before, doing something possibly drunkenly and thoughtless but was enough to prove to his ex he still loves her. Whom in turn still is desiring him/ wants him back. And this man just doesn't make sense with his ex girlfriend in the first place.
He angers him, it 'throws him from his chair.'
He knows her, he knows how she is, 'bring your sister out.'
So early the next morning they get a hold of one another, and he half heartily apologizes for acting like an ass the night before but he doesn't 'need it now.'
Leaving her with the final ultimatum:
If you're with me, then cmon, 'break it off with him' and we'll take your sister out and have a good time.
Yes, this song deserves more comments. It's one of my favorites from the album. One of the best uses of a droning bass I've ever heard.<br /> There's a few things I heard differently. "I refuse to talk this out cause I don't need this now." I think that makes more sense, but maybe these are the official lyrics. The most crucial way my interpretation differs from yours is that when he says, "You're an old friend we both know. I could take you out," I think he's referring to the new lover, being one of their mutual acquaintances. And of course, taking him out would mean kicking his ass.
It could be a guy trying to resolve an argument with an old friend about his girlfriend. His girlfriend is the friend's sister. The friend is advising his sister to 'break it off with him'.
It's about an ex-girlfriend who he loves and is now dating a good friend of his. He tried to take her back the night before and when when confronted by his friend, he punches him in his drunken rage.
He then goes to his friend's house the next day to take his friend's sister with him. She likes him, but he doesn't love her, and does it out of jealousy and spite.
It's a song of bitter heartbreak.
"I refuse to talk this out, 'cause I don't need this now."
"And last night you did something that I don't wanna hear."
"And all fun stops here. Something throws me from my chair. Bring your sister out, and we'll be leaving now."
I'm not clear on whose point of view the narrative is taking. Because of the title, the part where they're all driving in his car, and the odd reference to 'your sister', I think he is acting out some anger he saw from his father.