"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.
You were saving the date
But you woke up too late
Pulled the covers down over your head
You haven't left your front door
For a week maybe more
Tell me, hey, what's the news from your bed
You know your face is all covered with your birthday cake
That you're eating in the kitchen at home
Another banner year, a splendid day
Another inch or two that you've grown
But it's hard to celebrate on your own
There's a mouse in cupboard that nibbles your crumbs
And you talk to him every night
You say, “Hey, Mr. Whiskers, I'm bored and I'm numb
You can stay if you just treat me right.”
Just last year you were fortunate baby
And your friends circled around you in droves
Are they thinking of you? Maybe just maybe
But not a one has bothered to phone
Tell me where oh where did they go
Called a car an hour ago
You're gonna take yourself out
Despite the cold and snow
Did they forget about you
Are they in on it too?
You're sitting looking in the mirror
At your dancing shoes
When your family calls you make nice to them all
And assure them you're fine and you're great
Then you cry in the bath, cry so hard that you laugh
Then you watch television til late
Who do you need? Nobody.
You're lucky nobody's around
I can pour my own drinks
No thanks, Mister. Go on, and get out of town
And you're gorgeous in your evening gown.
But you woke up too late
Pulled the covers down over your head
You haven't left your front door
For a week maybe more
Tell me, hey, what's the news from your bed
You know your face is all covered with your birthday cake
That you're eating in the kitchen at home
Another banner year, a splendid day
Another inch or two that you've grown
But it's hard to celebrate on your own
There's a mouse in cupboard that nibbles your crumbs
And you talk to him every night
You say, “Hey, Mr. Whiskers, I'm bored and I'm numb
You can stay if you just treat me right.”
Just last year you were fortunate baby
And your friends circled around you in droves
Are they thinking of you? Maybe just maybe
But not a one has bothered to phone
Tell me where oh where did they go
Called a car an hour ago
You're gonna take yourself out
Despite the cold and snow
Did they forget about you
Are they in on it too?
You're sitting looking in the mirror
At your dancing shoes
When your family calls you make nice to them all
And assure them you're fine and you're great
Then you cry in the bath, cry so hard that you laugh
Then you watch television til late
Who do you need? Nobody.
You're lucky nobody's around
I can pour my own drinks
No thanks, Mister. Go on, and get out of town
And you're gorgeous in your evening gown.
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
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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/
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.
oh dear!
sad sad sad and happy happy happy at the same time. hey mr whiskers!
sad beautiful song
The February EP version of this song is much much better IMHO. Go out and try to find it if all you have heard is the Broken String version...of course I always like the version I heard first the best.
Agreed wholeheartedly. Its taking me a while to get used to the Broken String version
This song is really great. I love how subtle it is.. so much so that if you didnt listen closely to the lyrics you would think it is a really happy song. In fact, I think it is a break up song.. Hence the last line. I think it really captures loneliness and it is directed towards the listener- they use "you" instead of "I" or "he,"- making it hit much harder.
Who do you need? Nobody
I think this song is about someone moving away. A year ago you had all your friends around and now no one. You have to make nice to your family so they don't worry about you. Thats how I felt the first time I moved away. Your leaving everything that was yours behind and you have to start over. Even if that means you have to go out on your own to meet new people in a place thats strange to you or cold and snowy.
I'm thinking this song is about an old person. One whose family has left them (even though they assure them on the phone) and lives alone, with the mice, with nothing to do. No one calls, forgotten and old. The third verse maybe implying the character called for a car to go dancing, but wasn't taken seriously. (Are they in on it too?) " I can pour my own drinks" shows their struggle to not be babied while still dealing with the loneliness of independence.
But mostly I've always thought it's about an old person because they wear an evening gown. I figure that's an old person custom.
I take it as a person, a young women who has just left home. And on the outside everything is fine, but it's not. And the part where she called a car and "gonna take [herself] out" I take that as she was suppose to go meet some friends, but they kinda forgot about her. And she's out there in the world alone, but she doesn't want her family to worry so she just tells them everything's cool.
That's my take on it. Absolutely love this song.
This song kinda reminds me of my worst times when my friends didn't bother to wish me on my birthday or call me on the new year's eve.When my mom called me up I pretended everything was going great.Didn't have any mr.Whiskers though,but talked to my furnitures...creepy I know...
this might be one of my favorite songs ever. i think we've all been in that state where you're alone and you don't know why you don't have anybody anymore and you just cry about it. it's so catchy and i wish i had a mr.whiskers.