"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.
Some said eyes
Says goodbye
To dream that I was born
Nails me there
Paralyzed
I say that I won't
Become that now
It seems somehow
I don't remember
So, a kiss goodnight
For things that might
Hey...
One, two
Lead in night at the Laundromat
And I'm staring this girl pulls clothes from a dryer
And I'm wondering how I got here
'Cause it seems some where might just take me high
Well I needed this, more than I knew
And I let you down and I said I'm sorry
But the light falls on my castle walls
And my basketballs pelt me with bricks in my dreams
I might, I might, I might, Oh I might
I might, I might, I might�
If I could bottle my hopes in a store bought scent
They'd be nutmeg peach and they'd pay the rent
And I'd ride a horse, and I'd teach a course
On how I go to be this star crossed pimp, pimp, pimp
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
I might, Oh I might
I might, I might, I might
Let it out, Let it out
So a kiss goodnight
For the things that might
Hey...
Says goodbye
To dream that I was born
Nails me there
Paralyzed
I say that I won't
Become that now
It seems somehow
I don't remember
So, a kiss goodnight
For things that might
Hey...
One, two
Lead in night at the Laundromat
And I'm staring this girl pulls clothes from a dryer
And I'm wondering how I got here
'Cause it seems some where might just take me high
Well I needed this, more than I knew
And I let you down and I said I'm sorry
But the light falls on my castle walls
And my basketballs pelt me with bricks in my dreams
I might, I might, I might, Oh I might
I might, I might, I might�
If I could bottle my hopes in a store bought scent
They'd be nutmeg peach and they'd pay the rent
And I'd ride a horse, and I'd teach a course
On how I go to be this star crossed pimp, pimp, pimp
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
I might, Oh I might
I might, I might, I might
Let it out, Let it out
So a kiss goodnight
For the things that might
Hey...
Lyrics submitted by soultears
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Holiday
Bee Gees
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@[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.
Blue
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“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.
Punchline
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This song has parts of Ode to Maybe in it.. You can tell that it's one of their early ones..