"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.
Future
Sex
Love
Sound
Yeah, huh, ooh
Hey
You know what you want, yeah
And that makes you just like me
See, everybody says you're hot, baby
But can you make it hot for me
Said, if you're thinking about holding back
Don't worry, girl
'Cause I'm gonna make it so easy
So slide a little bit closer to me, little girl
See, daddy's on a mission to please
Wait a second
She's hopped up for me
I've got her in my zone
Her body's pressed up on me
I think she's ready to blow
Must be my future
Sex, love, sound
And when it goes down
Baby, all you got to do is
Just tell me which way you like that
(All you gotta is) tell me which way you like that
Do you like it like this?
Do you like it like that?
Tell me which way you like that
Tell me which way you like that
You can't stop, baby
You can't stop once you've turned me on
And your enemies are your thoughts, baby
So just let 'em go
'Cause all I need is a moment alone
To give you my tongue
And put you outta control
And after you let it in, we'll be skin to skin
It's just so natural
Wait a second
She's hopped up for me
I've got her in my zone
Her body's pressed up on me
I think she's ready to blow
Must be my future
Sex, love, sound
And when it goes down
Baby, all you got to do is
Just tell me which way you like that
(All you gotta do is) tell me which way you like that
Do you like it like this?
Do you like it like that?
Tell me which way you like that
Tell me which way you like that
Future, sex, love, sound
Future, sex, love, sound
Future, sex, love, sound
Future, sex, love, sound
Wait a second
She's hopped up for me
I've got her in my zone
Her body's pressed up on me
I think she's ready to blow
Must be my future
Sex, love, sound
And when it goes down
Baby, all you got to do is
Just tell me which way you like that
(All you gotta do is) tell me which way you like that
Do you like it like that?
Tell me which way you like that
Tell me which way you like that
Sex
Love
Sound
Yeah, huh, ooh
Hey
You know what you want, yeah
And that makes you just like me
See, everybody says you're hot, baby
But can you make it hot for me
Said, if you're thinking about holding back
Don't worry, girl
'Cause I'm gonna make it so easy
So slide a little bit closer to me, little girl
See, daddy's on a mission to please
Wait a second
She's hopped up for me
I've got her in my zone
Her body's pressed up on me
I think she's ready to blow
Must be my future
Sex, love, sound
And when it goes down
Baby, all you got to do is
Just tell me which way you like that
(All you gotta is) tell me which way you like that
Do you like it like this?
Do you like it like that?
Tell me which way you like that
Tell me which way you like that
You can't stop, baby
You can't stop once you've turned me on
And your enemies are your thoughts, baby
So just let 'em go
'Cause all I need is a moment alone
To give you my tongue
And put you outta control
And after you let it in, we'll be skin to skin
It's just so natural
Wait a second
She's hopped up for me
I've got her in my zone
Her body's pressed up on me
I think she's ready to blow
Must be my future
Sex, love, sound
And when it goes down
Baby, all you got to do is
Just tell me which way you like that
(All you gotta do is) tell me which way you like that
Do you like it like this?
Do you like it like that?
Tell me which way you like that
Tell me which way you like that
Future, sex, love, sound
Future, sex, love, sound
Future, sex, love, sound
Future, sex, love, sound
Wait a second
She's hopped up for me
I've got her in my zone
Her body's pressed up on me
I think she's ready to blow
Must be my future
Sex, love, sound
And when it goes down
Baby, all you got to do is
Just tell me which way you like that
(All you gotta do is) tell me which way you like that
Do you like it like that?
Tell me which way you like that
Tell me which way you like that
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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,
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.
Amazing. This is such an erotic song... the beat and everything... gives me shivers... RAWR lol