"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.
So clever, whatever
I'm done with these endeavors
Alone, I walk the winding way (here I stay)
It's over, no longer
I feel it growing stronger
I live to die another day
Until I fade away
Why give up, why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
Surround me
It's easy to fall apart completely
I feel you creeping up again (in my head)
It's over, no longer
I feel it growing colder
I knew this day would come to end
So let this life begin
Why give up, why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
I've lost my way
I've lost my way, but I will go on until the end
Living is hard enough
Without you fucking up
Why give up, why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
I've lost my way
I've lost my way, but I will go on until the end, ooh, ooh
The final fight I'll win
The final fight I'll win
The final fight I'll win
But I will go on until the end
I'm done with these endeavors
Alone, I walk the winding way (here I stay)
It's over, no longer
I feel it growing stronger
I live to die another day
Until I fade away
Why give up, why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
Surround me
It's easy to fall apart completely
I feel you creeping up again (in my head)
It's over, no longer
I feel it growing colder
I knew this day would come to end
So let this life begin
Why give up, why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
I've lost my way
I've lost my way, but I will go on until the end
Living is hard enough
Without you fucking up
Why give up, why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
I've lost my way
I've lost my way, but I will go on until the end, ooh, ooh
The final fight I'll win
The final fight I'll win
The final fight I'll win
But I will go on until the end
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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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
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.
Like the majority of the other songs on this album, it's about a girl, or a past relationship. From looking at the lyrics for the entire song, I would guess that the girl was cynical, somewhat hopeless about life, but who also pumps herself up with a superiority complex:
(Verse One) "So clever, whatever, I'm done with these endevours - alone I walk the winding way, (here I stay) It's over, no longer, I feel it growing stronger - I live to die another day, until I fade away."
You think you're so smart? Fine, I'm done with you - I'm going to go on alone, and I will not give up on life while there is still breath in this body. The chorus is him commenting about her attitude towards life, and possible towards their relationship - the line "It's not enough, it never is" could either refer to her dissatisfaction with life, or his behaviour in their relationship. Perhaps it refers to both:
(Basic Chorus) "why give up? why give in? it's not enough, it never is - so I will go on until the end. We've become desolate - it's not enough, it never is - but I will go on until the end."
The second verse is his commentary on how he currently views her and their relationship. I got wrapped up in you, and your inability to cope with and be happy in life. I love you, and even though it's over, you still creep into my mind from time to time. But I had a feeling this was coming, so I am going to keep on living life:
(Verse Two) "Surround me, it's easy, to fall apart completely - I feel you creeping up again, (in my head) It's over, no longer, I feel it growing colder - I knew this day would come to end, so let this life begin."
Some additional lines are added after the chorus is repeated. While I was with you, I became distracted from where I am supposed to be - but I am going to keep on living. Smarten up, woman - life is difficult enough without you making it more difficult on yourself:
(Extended Chorus) "I've lost my way, I've lost my way, but I will go on until the end. Living is, hard enough, without you fucking up!"
The final repeat of the chorus also includes some additional lines, replacing the second section with his view on the future. Things were difficult between us at times, and you may think that you are better than me, or that you were the winner in the conflict between us - however, I haven't given up on life, so I win in the end!:
(Final Chorus Ending) "The final fight I win, the final fight I win. The final fight I win, but I will go on until the end."
The_Fifth_Element pretty much said exactly what I think about the song, every time I listened to it I got the idea of this guy who was with someone although he loved her very much she just brought him down all the time. No matter what he did he was never enough or never good enough and she just, like you said made life more difficult than it needed to be.<br /> <br /> So he got rid of her and although it hurt he moved on with is life and became the bigger person and eventually won his struggle..
I feel that your interpretation is spot on. For me, her is a him. My poison, my curse, and my recurring loss.