"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 know what to do
You know what I did
Since you know everything, just clue me in
I am such a wreck
I am such a mess
I know what I know
Why don't you fill in the rest?
I will bring it down
I will make it bad
While you're feeling proud
Why don't you help me?
Such a shame that I wouldn't know by now
Your revelations
Cut me in
I don't want to live without
Your revelations, revelations
You know what to say
You know what I said
You know what I dream sleeping in my bed
You hold all the keys
You know all the rules
Why don't you guide me in if I'm such a lost soul?
I'm spinning around
I will make you ill
Since I'm so broken down, why don't you fix me?
Such a shame that I wouldn't know by now
Your revelations
Cut me in
I don't want to live without
Your revelations
I am haunted when I am sleeping
Try to give without receiving
It's in the apple bite
It's in the days and nights
In the afterlife we'll reap
Such a shame that I wouldn't know by now
Your revelations
Cut me in
I don't want to live without
Your revelations
Such a shame, such a shame
That I wouldn't know by now
Cut me in
I don't want to live without
Your revelations, revelations
You know what I did
Since you know everything, just clue me in
I am such a wreck
I am such a mess
I know what I know
Why don't you fill in the rest?
I will bring it down
I will make it bad
While you're feeling proud
Why don't you help me?
Such a shame that I wouldn't know by now
Your revelations
Cut me in
I don't want to live without
Your revelations, revelations
You know what to say
You know what I said
You know what I dream sleeping in my bed
You hold all the keys
You know all the rules
Why don't you guide me in if I'm such a lost soul?
I'm spinning around
I will make you ill
Since I'm so broken down, why don't you fix me?
Such a shame that I wouldn't know by now
Your revelations
Cut me in
I don't want to live without
Your revelations
I am haunted when I am sleeping
Try to give without receiving
It's in the apple bite
It's in the days and nights
In the afterlife we'll reap
Such a shame that I wouldn't know by now
Your revelations
Cut me in
I don't want to live without
Your revelations
Such a shame, such a shame
That I wouldn't know by now
Cut me in
I don't want to live without
Your revelations, revelations
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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.
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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/
anyone catch the Soundgarden reference in this song?
You may have to think about the possibility of it not being sarcastic, but maybe someone who honestly doesn't know themselves as much as an acquaintance. Someone who isn't aware of who they are, or what their actions cause. That's at least how I feel about this one.
(But it looks like everyone is referring to bush, which must be the popular thing to do, other than considering ALL options.)
Open up your minds a little people.
I think this song is being sarcastic as if it's trying to make a leader look stupid like a religious or government leader. It could also be from the viewpoint of someone blindly trusting someone else.
"You know what to do, you know what I did Since you know everything just clue me in I am such a wreck, I am such a mess I know what I know, why don't you fill in the rest"
This shows how a leader would expect people to suck up to them because they make "revelations" of them and their past. This makes them feel like there's something wrong with them so they want the leader to fix them but they aren't getting better even though the leader says they are.
"I will bring you down, I will make it bad While you're feelin' proud, why don't you help me"
This shows how the leader blames their problems or says that the problem is other peoples. The leader then becomes egoist and doesn't bother to resolve the issue.
"Such a shame that I wouldn't know by now (I wouldn't know by now) Your revelations Cut me in, I don't want to live without (Don't want to live without) Your revelations"
This shows how the people blindly trust the leader and even though they don't understand what they're talking about, they don't think that they're able to survive or get better without them and their "revelations".
"I am haunted when I am sleeping Try to give without recieving It's in the applebite, it's in the days and nights In the afterlife we'll reap"
I think this shows how the reality starts to slowly creep in to the follower of the leader that their leader might be wrong. I think it then goes on to use afterlife as a metaphor to show that when the followers of the leader are gone, the leaders pretty much useless.
Definitely about pompous know-it-alls, which could also include some Christian fundamentalists, like others noted. But really, there are all kinds of people who believe their ideas on certain subjects are just so much better than yours (whether religious, political, economical, sports-related), yet they don't really help you out.
I think it's about Christians who just associate with other Christians instead of reaching out like we're kind of supposed to do. Chris Cornell isn't very religious but he can definitely be spiritual and I think it really comes through in this song. It's for sure a good one.
Anyone know where I can hear this song? I heard it's going to be on the Madden soundtrack...
youtube.com/watch
this song fucking rocks!! it's currently on repeat!!
:D :D :D :D
There is a download of it somewhere, I have the full song.
You guys can find it on Audioslave's message board, in one of the threads.
Great song, just bought Madden and heard it yesterday...
As of now, I can't figure out the meaning of the song...
The songs on the new album seem to have a looser, funkier vibe to them...
If every song is as good as this one, Revelations could be Audioslave's best album yet...