"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.
Had to park my car for just five minutes.
I had to go inside to use the phone.
When I came back again, my car was gone. Well,
I didn't know it was a loading zone.
What a bummer, I is so brought down.
I had to chase that tow truck a over town, yellin'
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my car around.
Took my baby to the local disco.
I was jumpin' like a maniac.
But the owner came and pulled me off the floor. Then
He took me to his little office in the back.
He said, "I really like your snaggletooth necklace.
Your pants are groovy, and your hair's okay.
But, man, that car of yours is so uncool.
Like wow, I'm sorry, but we towed it away!"
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my car around!
Now I'm at home. I'm watchin' "Gilligan's Island."
Guess it's time to trade my old car in.
For twenty dollars and my '64 Plymouth,
Maybe I could get a second-hand Schwinn.
Look out the window, there's a
Tow truck in the driveway.
I grabbed the driver and I asked him why.
He said, "I'm sorry, kid, you're late with the payments.
It's time to kiss your little car goodbye."
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my car around!
Stop draggin' my car around!
Listen, the check's in the mail. No, really!
Stop draggin' my car around!
Oh man, I just had the hub caps painted!
Stop draggin' my car around!
Hey! Hey, I left a sandwich in the back seat!
I had to go inside to use the phone.
When I came back again, my car was gone. Well,
I didn't know it was a loading zone.
What a bummer, I is so brought down.
I had to chase that tow truck a over town, yellin'
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my car around.
Took my baby to the local disco.
I was jumpin' like a maniac.
But the owner came and pulled me off the floor. Then
He took me to his little office in the back.
He said, "I really like your snaggletooth necklace.
Your pants are groovy, and your hair's okay.
But, man, that car of yours is so uncool.
Like wow, I'm sorry, but we towed it away!"
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my car around!
Now I'm at home. I'm watchin' "Gilligan's Island."
Guess it's time to trade my old car in.
For twenty dollars and my '64 Plymouth,
Maybe I could get a second-hand Schwinn.
Look out the window, there's a
Tow truck in the driveway.
I grabbed the driver and I asked him why.
He said, "I'm sorry, kid, you're late with the payments.
It's time to kiss your little car goodbye."
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my
Stop draggin' my car around!
Stop draggin' my car around!
Listen, the check's in the mail. No, really!
Stop draggin' my car around!
Oh man, I just had the hub caps painted!
Stop draggin' my car around!
Hey! Hey, I left a sandwich in the back seat!
Lyrics submitted by thedarkman
Stop Draggin' My Car Around Lyrics as written by Michael W Campbell Frank Yankovic
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Gone Gator Music
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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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,
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“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.
The lament of an otherwise "cool guy" forced to repeatedly save his 1964 Plymouth car from impoundment due to illegal parking, shame, and non-payment.
Thanks, Wikipedia.