"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.
Falling over backwards for you, falling over everybody else
I put myself in that position every single time I had the chance
I know it's not my business to be digging up these things I should've known
But twenty years of bad decisions haven't taught me much at all
I permit the advance you're making; everyone pretends it's not your fault
And all of this offense you're taking doesn't bother me at all
Twist my arm if that's the way you think you're gonna work this whole thing out
You know you own my body, but don't think you control my mouth
(Having every question answered isn't going to help at all)
When you're not supposed to know
Anything
Another textbook situation, everything I think I know I've read
What's the point if medication only makes me wish that I were dead?
It's pretty clear that you want me; it's written here on every single page
Spitting blood, not stupid, I can read it all over your face
(Having every question answered isn't going to help at all)
When you're not supposed to know
Anything
I put myself in that position every single time I had the chance
I know it's not my business to be digging up these things I should've known
But twenty years of bad decisions haven't taught me much at all
I permit the advance you're making; everyone pretends it's not your fault
And all of this offense you're taking doesn't bother me at all
Twist my arm if that's the way you think you're gonna work this whole thing out
You know you own my body, but don't think you control my mouth
(Having every question answered isn't going to help at all)
When you're not supposed to know
Anything
Another textbook situation, everything I think I know I've read
What's the point if medication only makes me wish that I were dead?
It's pretty clear that you want me; it's written here on every single page
Spitting blood, not stupid, I can read it all over your face
(Having every question answered isn't going to help at all)
When you're not supposed to know
Anything
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Keith's trying to please everyone around him, specifically this one person. He knows exactly what a person knows, he 'read it in a book', but 'having every question answered doesnt help'. just because he's read all the books on how to please, doens't mean he'll be able to please this one specific person. and this person he's trying to please really sucks. they're trying to get keith not to say or think something, maybe? they've got total control over his body, but none whatsoever on what he says or thinks. 'Twist my arm if that's the way you think you're gonna work this whole thing out/you know you own my body but don't think that you control my mouth'. that's why having every question answered doesn't help when you're not supposed to help, because she doesn't want him to know anything. and then the rest...I just don't know. the 'i'm smitten but not stupid' part's a bit obvious. he really likes her, but he can see right through her and knows she sucks. It's a textbook situation, because it's something you see all the time, whether it be on the t.v. or in a book.
that's all I've got.
this is the best song on the album, i think.
OH ITS WELL GAY.
i think this song is about when guitarist and singer keith murray met tina turner and borrowed her, 'textbook' a nice little book on the ins an out of life, oliver peer once read this book and felt an almost uncanny resembelence to write songs almost exactly like w.a.s so so putting it down to fate i am almost certain it is that keith has read this book and felt obliged to wwrite a monatage to tina herself and im almost sure that when he 'falls down the stairs' it is because he is too busy reading i am what i am (tina's life biography). well thank you and i am sure that is what it is about any suggestions?
ASDGG
.
Tina Turner is a gay witch, she lives on a farm with twenty horses and then they are march down the main street angrily chanting, 'out out out W.A.S.'. Bastards.
Hey, sure, why not.
boney wins.
thank you!
finally, an accomplishment I can be proud of.