"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.
My darling baby, now let's go to bed
But darling sounds like beloved instead
Mummy ignores the lurking dread
Sweet child of hers has twins in her head
Twins in her head, twins in her head, "I have twins in my head"
The bed was tucked, there's no one around
Wish I could move but my limbs are bound
The night is so thick and sweet mommy's gone
Afraid of the dark and the voices come
The voices come (and my mommy's gone)
Dollies and puppets dance on the shelf
Night-night me, night-night myself
Pictures, voices and thoughts in whirls
Girlies kissing other girls and other girls
Silent moans: "O mommy please help me!
Kiss her, no, kill her, can't help this uneasy
Dolly mixture of feeling and shadows
Anger and joy, tension and sorrow
And everything blows
Gingerbread bogeymen, void wedding dresses
Dance in the trees giving cold kisses
Legion of shades walk by the window
While winds blow the cries of weeping willows
She's the one to know
Through the moonlit forest pale feet ran fast
Trying to escape from herself aghast
The very last step was made to the river
Where lily-white dresses (will) float forever
For ever and ever
Everything hastened in the fake roundabout
Poor little girl, she found no way out
With lily white hands
The dead dollies took her
And tied her to dreams for ever and ever
Gemini Girly came and said to me
"Don't you be worried, I lie with dollies
And they look after me
Just like sweet mommy
Used to care for me
Used to care for me"
And every fucking night she comes in my sleep
Every fucking night she comes in my sleep
Sweet Gemini Girly cries, Gemini Girly dies, Gemini Girly lies
Her lily white dress shines
Deep, deep down inside; deep, deep down inside
The river and mind, the river and my mind
Down inside, river and my mind
The river and . . . my mind
But darling sounds like beloved instead
Mummy ignores the lurking dread
Sweet child of hers has twins in her head
Twins in her head, twins in her head, "I have twins in my head"
The bed was tucked, there's no one around
Wish I could move but my limbs are bound
The night is so thick and sweet mommy's gone
Afraid of the dark and the voices come
The voices come (and my mommy's gone)
Dollies and puppets dance on the shelf
Night-night me, night-night myself
Pictures, voices and thoughts in whirls
Girlies kissing other girls and other girls
Silent moans: "O mommy please help me!
Kiss her, no, kill her, can't help this uneasy
Dolly mixture of feeling and shadows
Anger and joy, tension and sorrow
And everything blows
Gingerbread bogeymen, void wedding dresses
Dance in the trees giving cold kisses
Legion of shades walk by the window
While winds blow the cries of weeping willows
She's the one to know
Through the moonlit forest pale feet ran fast
Trying to escape from herself aghast
The very last step was made to the river
Where lily-white dresses (will) float forever
For ever and ever
Everything hastened in the fake roundabout
Poor little girl, she found no way out
With lily white hands
The dead dollies took her
And tied her to dreams for ever and ever
Gemini Girly came and said to me
"Don't you be worried, I lie with dollies
And they look after me
Just like sweet mommy
Used to care for me
Used to care for me"
And every fucking night she comes in my sleep
Every fucking night she comes in my sleep
Sweet Gemini Girly cries, Gemini Girly dies, Gemini Girly lies
Her lily white dress shines
Deep, deep down inside; deep, deep down inside
The river and mind, the river and my mind
Down inside, river and my mind
The river and . . . my mind
Lyrics submitted by zweiundzwei, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
Herr Katz (Klishee writes the music) does not claim meaninglessness, he claims meaninglessness outside of the song, so he does not say the song does not tell a story, but that it has no meaning/relevance in relation to anything else in the world. That's how I understood it anyway.