"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.
Bury your head
Bury your head
I was feeling fine
You'll be coming clean tonight
And I'll be falling down with you once again
Call me your valentine, call me once tonight
And I will then say it's okay
The things you've said, I'm rehearsing them
The things you've said, I'm rehearsing them
They went back on us
(Closed eyes rolled back couldn't step it up)
I could know him to come over when
It's the thought that emerges
(Take back couldn't step it up)
I could never love, your eyes have changed
Bury your head, has the child smashed you down
And the psalms will never call me again
(Fall down below)
I'll sleep tonight
(When you're okay)
And I will then say it's okay
The things you've said, I'm rehearsing them
The things you've said, I'm rehearsing them
They went back on us
(Closed eyes rolled back couldn't step it up)
I could know him to come over when
It's the thought that emerges
(Take back couldn't step it up)
I could never love, your eyes have changed
They will be the ones to see him come
Is this what you call love?
They stole my lies
You write it all
They wandered around and 'round my mouth
They stole my lies
You write it all
Stole it all
They have been the ones to see enough
They went back on us
(Closed eyes rolled back couldn't step it up)
I could know him to come over when
It's the thought that emerges
(Take back couldn't step it up)
I could never love, your eyes have changed
You'll be coming clean tonight
Bury your head
I was feeling fine
You'll be coming clean tonight
And I'll be falling down with you once again
Call me your valentine, call me once tonight
And I will then say it's okay
The things you've said, I'm rehearsing them
The things you've said, I'm rehearsing them
They went back on us
(Closed eyes rolled back couldn't step it up)
I could know him to come over when
It's the thought that emerges
(Take back couldn't step it up)
I could never love, your eyes have changed
Bury your head, has the child smashed you down
And the psalms will never call me again
(Fall down below)
I'll sleep tonight
(When you're okay)
And I will then say it's okay
The things you've said, I'm rehearsing them
The things you've said, I'm rehearsing them
They went back on us
(Closed eyes rolled back couldn't step it up)
I could know him to come over when
It's the thought that emerges
(Take back couldn't step it up)
I could never love, your eyes have changed
They will be the ones to see him come
Is this what you call love?
They stole my lies
You write it all
They wandered around and 'round my mouth
They stole my lies
You write it all
Stole it all
They have been the ones to see enough
They went back on us
(Closed eyes rolled back couldn't step it up)
I could know him to come over when
It's the thought that emerges
(Take back couldn't step it up)
I could never love, your eyes have changed
You'll be coming clean tonight
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
I'm basing my meaning off of the ALBUM version of this song, and not these lyrics. I think these lyrics were the demo/EP version.
It's for sure about a girl cheating on him. "I could never love the ion vein" - an ion is when a molecule has one too many protons/electrons, so he's saying the relationship has a 3rd person in it. Closed eyes rolled back, couldn't step it up - she rolls her eyes when he asks about it, and she can't step up and just tell him the truth. I could know what to come on to when it's the thought that emerges - Meaning, he knows he's probably right, because it was just a thought that emerged out of nowhere. They stole my lies so write it all - He questions the people she's cheating on him with, and they admit the truth. He's kinda saying "they came up with the same lies as me?" in a sarcastic way. So he's giving up and telling her to write it all, because he's done with it. They have been the ones who've seen enough - even the strangers she cheats with have seen enough. (Maybe)