"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 passing sleeping cities
Fading by degrees
And believing all I see to be so
I'm flyin' over backyards
Country homes and ranches
Watching life between the branches below
And it's hard to say
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
I'm moving on alone
Over ground that no one owns
Past statues that atone for my sins
And there's a guard on every door
And a drink on every floor
Overflowing with a thousand amens
And it's hard to say
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
Don't you baby?
You're rolling up the carpet
Of your father's two-room mansion
No headroom for expansion no more
And there's a corner of the floor
They're telling you is yours
You're confident but not really sure
And it's hard to say
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
Don't you baby
Fading by degrees
And believing all I see to be so
I'm flyin' over backyards
Country homes and ranches
Watching life between the branches below
And it's hard to say
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
I'm moving on alone
Over ground that no one owns
Past statues that atone for my sins
And there's a guard on every door
And a drink on every floor
Overflowing with a thousand amens
And it's hard to say
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
Don't you baby?
You're rolling up the carpet
Of your father's two-room mansion
No headroom for expansion no more
And there's a corner of the floor
They're telling you is yours
You're confident but not really sure
And it's hard to say
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
Don't you baby
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Sure, the music is a rip off of ZZ Top's "La Grange", but he's earned the right from other bands taking from him. That said, great song, proving that Petty is still a great musician.