"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.
Is this "climbing up to the moon?"
Or is it bailing out too soon?
I hope we didn't wait too long
All that I wanted to say, words only got in the way
But then I found another way to communicate
Is this "climbing up to the moon?"
Or is it fadin' out too soon?
I know we didn't, I know we didn't wait too long
Cause anytime's a good time to move on
Things I could say to myself, I could never say to anyone else
But what Madonna said really helped
She said, "Boy, you better learn to express yourself!"
I know we didn't, I know we didn't wait too long
'Cause anytime's a good time to move on
Or is it bailing out too soon?
I hope we didn't wait too long
All that I wanted to say, words only got in the way
But then I found another way to communicate
Is this "climbing up to the moon?"
Or is it fadin' out too soon?
I know we didn't, I know we didn't wait too long
Cause anytime's a good time to move on
Things I could say to myself, I could never say to anyone else
But what Madonna said really helped
She said, "Boy, you better learn to express yourself!"
I know we didn't, I know we didn't wait too long
'Cause anytime's a good time to move on
Lyrics submitted by LetMenBurnStars
Anytime Lyrics as written by James Olliges Jr
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
I believe that this song deals with a man's trouble to express to a girl that he likes her and the anxiety he feels because he isn't sure if he is trying to hard, too little, or hesitating and letting too much time go by.
It starts out with two questions; (is this trying too much or not enough?) The questions represent the self-doubt that a man may feel when trying to decide the right course of action in such delicate matters.
The man portrayed in the song does alot of thinking and romanticizing 'behind the scenes' so to speak, and has difficulty bringing his feelings and thoughts constructivly into reality, thus, the need to learn to express himself.
but ultimately, despite all of his contemplative efforts ... he learns that anytime is a good time to move on... that means that he learns not to hold back, and also that everything is a learning experience so... even if he made mistakes in the past ... he was atleast aware of his ignorance and has grown from it.
Its interesting that people can say this song is about breaking up or the complete opposote, getting together. Hmmm, it cant be both...