"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.
Gather around me,
I need some time to recollect these thoughts of mine
You're so kind to stand behind me,
Help me face these fears I've built over the years
It's so clear your always here
(I wouldn't leave you here like this)
And I'm desperate, oh so desperate to feel alive
(you need someone to help you,
Please let me guide you through this)
Your so kind to offer assistance in my interest,
I could've never made it through tonight
It's so right cause we saw this coming through and I'm still here,
Keep me here I believe
Finding faith you must agree upon a state of action
Keep me posted, still in action
I keep you here cause I believe
Finding faith is what I need
To take the chances I must take
Before my heart begins to break
I know you have it hard sometimes,
Don't let the bad things rule your life
Sit back and watch your life take flight,
You're just so young you have the time
The time
Just leave it alone x2
keep me here I believe
Finding faith you must agree
Upon a state of action
Keep me posted, still in action
I'll keep you here cause I believe
Finding faith is what I need
To take the chances I much take
Before my heart begins to break
Before my heart begins to break
Thanks for being here my friend,
Here with me til the very end of time
We're gonna do this one together x2
Thanks for being here my friend,
We're gonna do this one together
Thanks for being here my friend,
Keep me here I believe
Finding faith you must agree
Upon a state of action
Keep me posted, still in action.
I need some time to recollect these thoughts of mine
You're so kind to stand behind me,
Help me face these fears I've built over the years
It's so clear your always here
(I wouldn't leave you here like this)
And I'm desperate, oh so desperate to feel alive
(you need someone to help you,
Please let me guide you through this)
Your so kind to offer assistance in my interest,
I could've never made it through tonight
It's so right cause we saw this coming through and I'm still here,
Keep me here I believe
Finding faith you must agree upon a state of action
Keep me posted, still in action
I keep you here cause I believe
Finding faith is what I need
To take the chances I must take
Before my heart begins to break
I know you have it hard sometimes,
Don't let the bad things rule your life
Sit back and watch your life take flight,
You're just so young you have the time
The time
Just leave it alone x2
keep me here I believe
Finding faith you must agree
Upon a state of action
Keep me posted, still in action
I'll keep you here cause I believe
Finding faith is what I need
To take the chances I much take
Before my heart begins to break
Before my heart begins to break
Thanks for being here my friend,
Here with me til the very end of time
We're gonna do this one together x2
Thanks for being here my friend,
We're gonna do this one together
Thanks for being here my friend,
Keep me here I believe
Finding faith you must agree
Upon a state of action
Keep me posted, still in action.
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
Hey plantlife, before you start bashing other people and calling them fucking stupid, I think you should speak for yourself. This song is not by Gregory and The Hawk, it's by The Scene Aesthetic. If you were smart enough to even listen to their song, you'd realize it's by The Scene Aesthetic.
To Siana: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm thinking the girl singing backup vocals is Taylor Thomas. I think that's her name...she's Andrew's current girlfriend. But then again, it's only a guess, it could be anyone else.
I think this song is about like two best friends, and how they've believed in each other, abd they've always been there for each other, for the better and for the worse. I think he's singing about how his friend's going through a rough time and he's telling them that they can get through it. [We're gonna do this one together]. He's basically just thanking them for being a good friend. But of course, this is only my interpretation of the song. You can agree or disagree about it; I really don't care.