"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.
I'm tired of being here
On this hill
No one lives to be three hundred years
Like the way it used to be
I think they were giants
I think they were giants
On this hill, nothing grows except greed
You will stay to finish your work
As long as need be
As long as need be
On a clear day
I can see my old house
And my wife in the front yard
Talking with the friends
[Chorus:]
We gathered in spring
We gathered in spring
We gathered in spring
We gathered in spring
I'm tired of being here
On this hill
Where I'm sure to find my last meal
No one lives to be three hundred years
On a clear day
I can see my old house
And my wife in the front yard
Talking with the friends
[Chorus]
On this hill
No one lives to be three hundred years
Like the way it used to be
I think they were giants
I think they were giants
On this hill, nothing grows except greed
You will stay to finish your work
As long as need be
As long as need be
On a clear day
I can see my old house
And my wife in the front yard
Talking with the friends
[Chorus:]
We gathered in spring
We gathered in spring
We gathered in spring
We gathered in spring
I'm tired of being here
On this hill
Where I'm sure to find my last meal
No one lives to be three hundred years
On a clear day
I can see my old house
And my wife in the front yard
Talking with the friends
[Chorus]
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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,
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.
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.
how i see it, he wants to be great, but lives a mediocre life where nothing great happens. He wants to be like those in the past who he thought lived to be three hundred and who he thought were giants because they led such amazing lives.