"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.
Three little birds sat on my window
And they told me I don't need to worry
Summer came like cinnamon, so sweet
Little girls, double-dutch on the concrete
Maybe sometimes we got it wrong, but it's all right
The more things seems to change, the more they stay the same
Ooh, don't you hesitate
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely
Sipping tea in a bar by the road side
(Just relax, just relax)
Don't you let those other boys fool you
Gotta love that Afro hairdo
Maybe sometimes we feel afraid, but it's all right
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change
Don't you think it's strange?
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Just more than I could take
Pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake
I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realize that you don't even have to try any longer?
Do what you want to
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
Ooh, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
And they told me I don't need to worry
Summer came like cinnamon, so sweet
Little girls, double-dutch on the concrete
Maybe sometimes we got it wrong, but it's all right
The more things seems to change, the more they stay the same
Ooh, don't you hesitate
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely
Sipping tea in a bar by the road side
(Just relax, just relax)
Don't you let those other boys fool you
Gotta love that Afro hairdo
Maybe sometimes we feel afraid, but it's all right
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change
Don't you think it's strange?
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Just more than I could take
Pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake
I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realize that you don't even have to try any longer?
Do what you want to
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
Ooh, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Lyrics submitted by sparklefairy
Put Your Records On Lyrics as written by John Robert Beck Steven Chrisanthou
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Love this song! And yea I agree about it being about being yourself :) Not worrying and embracing your inner beauty. The hair down is like a metaphor to get loose; which is cool, since it's what many of us girls do when were at home and want to relax. We let our hair loose..and enjoy the feel of the wind whatever--etc
The part where she's like 'don't let those other boys fool you, gotta love that afro hair' I think its a personal reference to how some guys may have been like to her, like 'wtf is up with the afro" and she's all like 'yeah-whatever-it's natural and it rocks.' Which I agree because I have done an afro for a whole summer and some guys are really not into it, they prefer long and strait or something. So I think she's pointing this out to girls to be natural or just yourself,and this really goes to all girls who feel crushed by a guy not liking a part of you, like if your pale and a guy like tan/or you wear loose jeans instead of tight---but overall you just have to forget about those silly boys/people,cause your actually beautiful matter what.
I think that afro hair do line is about saying that even it if its a bit different its you so you gotta love it anyway. No matter what other people say or think bout it
the acoustic version that was free from itunes awhile back is so sweet. 100% summer song to me, ever before i even read the lyrics. her voice is just so clear and wonderful, like cotton candy and pink lemonade. so delicious and carefree. a great tune that reminds you to just enjoy your summer, regardless of the stress before and after it. :q
a great song. corinne bailey rae will go far! i love her unique voice!
I like this song, it's really nice.
It's about reassurance and not to worry too much, don't worry you'll find your feet. where what you want, listen to what you want.
Sapphire and faded jeans...
I suppose it's personal but what does the beat about the hair do mean?
I thought it was afro hair do lol and i've even seen it written as 'apple' hair do.
"let your hair down" means to relax as opposed to being uptight
I Love this song and the artist her album is aslo fab! i think this song is about reassurance to and you have to have hope or you wont survive life! I dont know what the Afro hair do bits about but i think its a really good line! lol!
Corinne Bailey Rae is the new Ella Fitzgerald. In "Put Your Records On", she sings about the freedom girls nowadays should have, with the basic line "Don't worry". Corinne makes us remember the old times (Girl, put your records on) in a modern way. Definitely a song to listen, when upset or depressed.
i hadn't finished yet, pah. (i also meant bit not beat heh)
Is she saying that the boys are silly and have dumb hair?
I think it's Gotta love that afro hairdo too. Yeah i agree i think this songs about hope and reassurance... She's meant to be big this year. :)
the line "just go ahead, let your hair down" is like telling you to relax! let your hair down. let it all hang loose, because you shouldn't worry so much. just like you said before, you'll find your feet.
i'm watching corinne's album release listening party on vh1 soul and she was saying that "put your records on" is like a song about finding yourself through music. i didn't catch the other stuff she said, but i think you can figure what it means