"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.
And suddenly, I don't feel fat anymore
I don't count my blackheads as a hobby
I don't count the marks on the wall
And I don't sleep well at all
There is someone else right beside me
He kept every secret I told
He giggled his way straight through fall
And I don't sleep well at all
He knows when I'm happy and nods when I'm sad
And he puts out when I come home drunk
And suddenly I stand real tall
But I don't sleep well at all
I have seen too many movies
I have read too many books
I'm the kind that sees sun and brings an umbrella
I have been to fortune tellers
And I know love will leave you all crooked
And I know he'll start sleeping around
Or start listening to symphony rock
Or throw out the key and change the lock
But I don't sleep well at all
I don't count my blackheads as a hobby
I don't count the marks on the wall
And I don't sleep well at all
There is someone else right beside me
He kept every secret I told
He giggled his way straight through fall
And I don't sleep well at all
He knows when I'm happy and nods when I'm sad
And he puts out when I come home drunk
And suddenly I stand real tall
But I don't sleep well at all
I have seen too many movies
I have read too many books
I'm the kind that sees sun and brings an umbrella
I have been to fortune tellers
And I know love will leave you all crooked
And I know he'll start sleeping around
Or start listening to symphony rock
Or throw out the key and change the lock
But I don't sleep well at all
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
For me it is about the lack of letting go of your fears and commiting to a new love because you think it will end bad anyway. The inability to be happy due to a lack of trust and hope. The inability to live in the moment.