"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.
I've seen your eyes as they fix on me
What is he doing?
What on earth's the plan, has he got one?
You better give me some pointers
Since you are the big rocket launcher
And I'm just the shotgun
Well, I ain't got no dollar signs in my eyes
That might be a surprise but it's true
Said, I'm not like you
And I don't want your advice or your praise
Or to move in the ways you do
And I never will
'Cause all you people are vampires
And all your stories are stale
And though you pretend to stand by us
I know you're certain we'll fail
Well, I've seen your eyes as they fix on me
Full of confusion
Your snarl is just so condescending
Try to explain that we're on to a win
If the fee we got in
Near recoups what we're spending
He said, "I can't believe that you drove all that way
Well, how much did they pay ya? How much did they pay ya?
You'd have been better to stay round our way"
Thinking 'bout things but not actually doing the things
'Cause all you people are vampires
And all your stories are stale
And though you pretend to stand by us
I know you're certain we'll fail
'Cause all you people are vampires
And all your stories are stale
And though you pretend to stand by us
I know you're certain we'll fail
All you people are vampires
What is he doing?
What on earth's the plan, has he got one?
You better give me some pointers
Since you are the big rocket launcher
And I'm just the shotgun
Well, I ain't got no dollar signs in my eyes
That might be a surprise but it's true
Said, I'm not like you
And I don't want your advice or your praise
Or to move in the ways you do
And I never will
'Cause all you people are vampires
And all your stories are stale
And though you pretend to stand by us
I know you're certain we'll fail
Well, I've seen your eyes as they fix on me
Full of confusion
Your snarl is just so condescending
Try to explain that we're on to a win
If the fee we got in
Near recoups what we're spending
He said, "I can't believe that you drove all that way
Well, how much did they pay ya? How much did they pay ya?
You'd have been better to stay round our way"
Thinking 'bout things but not actually doing the things
'Cause all you people are vampires
And all your stories are stale
And though you pretend to stand by us
I know you're certain we'll fail
'Cause all you people are vampires
And all your stories are stale
And though you pretend to stand by us
I know you're certain we'll fail
All you people are vampires
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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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.
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Blink-182
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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Ed Sheeran
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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.
ROFL LessThanJake4Life, you are honestly pathetic...How can people like you be so ignorant that you think if someone says something about the Jews, they are "Nazis"?? Get commie garbage out of our nation.