"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 lapse in life I cannot lie
Compels me to wonder why
My valid try is so far from divine
See you running (See you running)
The only way to fall is down
Strive to beat what eats within
Go ahead and drown the kid
Who thought could reach the rim
Of all the dreams once spoon fed
Hold you up to the sky
Leave you there just one more time
My valid try so far from divine
See you running (See you running)
The only way you've known how
See you running (See you running)
The only way you've known how
Back and forth I cannont take this
Forced euphoric fabrication
Held in place the heart is weightless
Breaking down I need a facelift
Don't stare at the wall
Compels me to wonder why
My valid try is so far from divine
See you running (See you running)
The only way to fall is down
Strive to beat what eats within
Go ahead and drown the kid
Who thought could reach the rim
Of all the dreams once spoon fed
Hold you up to the sky
Leave you there just one more time
My valid try so far from divine
See you running (See you running)
The only way you've known how
See you running (See you running)
The only way you've known how
Back and forth I cannont take this
Forced euphoric fabrication
Held in place the heart is weightless
Breaking down I need a facelift
Don't stare at the wall
Lyrics submitted by TheKissofVanity
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I believe this song is about sin. the title refering to the seven deadly sins. the person in the song at times tries their hardest to keep from sinning but falls far short of perfect. the person is torn between good and bad, most often falling to bad.
I think he is just giving up on trying to be perfect, he is giving in to the seven deadly sins. "The only way to fall is down."
But then later he is trying to ask for help, but it seems like the person is always running away from him. So he struggles inside himself to find the answers.
First off, I'm almost positive that instead of "divine" he is saying "dead."
I think this song is about being held up to certain expectations. Like how your parents might want all the best things in life for you: good education, good job and etc, but you can't live up to their expectation.
i think he is trying to make a relationship different, but the the negativity viewed is so overwhelming and almost impossible to change. So giving up is the answer
i believe its about going insane realy.. "Strive to beat what eats within Go ahead and drown the kid Who thought could reach the rim" its saying your loosing knowlege of yourself "Compels me to wonder why My valid try is so far from divine" but that is just my thought
7 is said to be the number of God...and we all want to be our own Gods (and Godesses) don't we? hahaha but thats rediculous, come on now, we are not perfect beings in any way and have many flaws be it. Humans are made over time, with our experience and knowledge we slowly better as individuals. Keep Running towards what you want (in..life), because simply you will get it if you Truly want it. Don't think you are being held back by who you are and stack your obstacles, slow-down, Use thetime you have and make yourself.
Word. Some Words.