"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.
On the corner of Main Street
Just tryna keep it in line
You say you wanna move on and
You say I'm fallin' behind
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
I never really gave up on
Breakin' out of this two-star town
I got the green light, I got a little fight
I'm gonna turn this thing around
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
The good old days, the honest man
The restless heart, the Promised Land
A subtle kiss that no one sees
A broken wrist and a big trapeze
Oh well, I don't mind if you don't mind
'Cause I don't shine if you don't shine
Before you go
Can you read my mind?
It's funny how you just break down
Waitin' on some sign
I pull up to the front of your driveway
With magic soakin' my spine
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
The teenage queen, the loaded gun
The drop dead dream, the Chosen One
A southern drawl, a world unseen
A city wall and a trampoline
Oh well, I don't mind if you don't mind
'Cause I don't shine if you don't shine
Before you jump
Tell me what you find
Can you read my mind?
Slippin' in my faith until I fall
He never returned that call
Woman, open the door, don't let it sting
I wanna breathe that fire again
She said, "I don't mind if you don't mind
'Cause I don't shine if you don't shine"
Put your back on me, put your back on me
Put your back on me
The stars are blazing like rebel diamonds
Cut out of the sun
Can you read my mind?
Just tryna keep it in line
You say you wanna move on and
You say I'm fallin' behind
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
I never really gave up on
Breakin' out of this two-star town
I got the green light, I got a little fight
I'm gonna turn this thing around
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
The good old days, the honest man
The restless heart, the Promised Land
A subtle kiss that no one sees
A broken wrist and a big trapeze
Oh well, I don't mind if you don't mind
'Cause I don't shine if you don't shine
Before you go
Can you read my mind?
It's funny how you just break down
Waitin' on some sign
I pull up to the front of your driveway
With magic soakin' my spine
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
The teenage queen, the loaded gun
The drop dead dream, the Chosen One
A southern drawl, a world unseen
A city wall and a trampoline
Oh well, I don't mind if you don't mind
'Cause I don't shine if you don't shine
Before you jump
Tell me what you find
Can you read my mind?
Slippin' in my faith until I fall
He never returned that call
Woman, open the door, don't let it sting
I wanna breathe that fire again
She said, "I don't mind if you don't mind
'Cause I don't shine if you don't shine"
Put your back on me, put your back on me
Put your back on me
The stars are blazing like rebel diamonds
Cut out of the sun
Can you read my mind?
Lyrics submitted by foldsbaldwin
Read My Mind Lyrics as written by Dave Brent Keuning Brandon Flowers
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think it is about a relationship. "on the corner of main street just tryin' to keep it in line" he just left her house
"you say you wanna move on and you say I'm falling behind" she just broke up with him, saying she wants to move on. "I got the green light I got a little fight I'm gonna turn this thing around" he wants to go back to her, and he is going to turn the relationship around, (and the car).
"The good old days,the honest man, the restless heart, the promised land a subtle kiss, that no one sees"
he is thinking about the beginning of the relationship. "before you go can you read my mind" he doesnt want it to end, and he wonders if she knew that.
"it's funny how you just break down waitin' on some sign I pull up to the front of your driveway with magic soakin' my spine" he was waiting for a sign before he went back to her place, as he pulls up he feels the urge inside him to go to her.
"Slippin in my faith until I fall you never returned that call woman, open the door don't let it sting I wanna breathe that fire again" he has faith in thier relationship but he contiues to make mistakes (slippin).
he comes to the door and doesn't want to feel the pain of being away from each other and he wants to 'breathe that fire again'-which can mean several things. "She said I don't mind if you don't mind cuz I don't shine if you don't shine " she takes him back, because she isn't happy if he isn't and they are not happy without one another.
but all that other stuff, i dont know...it is brandon flowers, his lyrics are open for interpretation. But this was my idea....
i think your right, this song relates to me so much right now. it's more of a adjustment than a break up.<br /> almost play by play, even the "a subtle kiss, that no one sees" in that verse tells me they started as friends and it was a secret relationship back in the good old days at the start.<br /> "you say you wanna move on and<br /> you say I'm falling behind" to me, it's about her wanting to take it to the next level and bring it out into the open and connect more, but the guy is still playing along with the hidden relationship, so he has to "fight or flight" as they say.