"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.
It's not so much the pain
It's more the actual knife
Pretending the picture is perfect
I cut myself to sleep
I close my eyes for a second
And curse my fragile soul
I scream to hide that I'm lonely
The echo calls my name
If I ever
If I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see
Make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
The rain drops just beg to hit me
What now hasn't rained for days
No time to play hide-and-seek
I call on you to take me on
Break me down to pieces
Put me back, do it right this time
Struggling to fill this empty shell
Burn all my efforts
In the end it means nothing
If I ever
If I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see
Make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
These thoughts burn a hole in my heart
These thoughts will keep me feeling
These thoughts burn a hole in my heart
These thoughts will keep me feeling
If I ever
If I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see
Make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
It's more the actual knife
Pretending the picture is perfect
I cut myself to sleep
I close my eyes for a second
And curse my fragile soul
I scream to hide that I'm lonely
The echo calls my name
If I ever
If I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see
Make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
The rain drops just beg to hit me
What now hasn't rained for days
No time to play hide-and-seek
I call on you to take me on
Break me down to pieces
Put me back, do it right this time
Struggling to fill this empty shell
Burn all my efforts
In the end it means nothing
If I ever
If I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see
Make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
These thoughts burn a hole in my heart
These thoughts will keep me feeling
These thoughts burn a hole in my heart
These thoughts will keep me feeling
If I ever
If I never
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see
Make me be
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
@Ganondox Note that I put "God" in quotes because it could also be a friend or even just a voice in their head.