"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.
Jesus Christ, that's a pretty face
The kind you'd find on someone I could save
If they don't put me away
Well, it'll be a miracle
Do you believe you're missing out
That everything good is happening somewhere else?
But with nobody in your bed
The night's hard to get through
And I will die all alone
And when I arrive, I won't know anyone
Well, Jesus Christ, I'm alone again
So what did you do those three days you were dead?
Cause this problem's gonna last more than the weekend
Well, Jesus Christ, I'm not scared to die
I'm a little bit scared of what comes after
Do I get the gold chariot?
Do I float through the ceiling?
Do I divide and fall apart?
Cause my bright is to slight to hold back all my dark
And the ship went down in sight of land
And at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?
I know you'll come in the night like a thief
But I've had some time alone to hone my lying technique
I know you think that I'm someone you can trust
But I'm scared I'll get scared, and I swear I'll try to nail you back up
So, do you think that we could work out a sign
So I'll know it's you and that it's over so I won't even try?
I know you'll come for the people like me
But we all got wood and nails
Tongue tied to a hating factory
But we all got wood and nails
And we turn out hate in factories
Yeah, we all got wood and nails
And we turn out hate in factories
Yeah, we all got wood and nails
And we sleep inside of this machine
The kind you'd find on someone I could save
If they don't put me away
Well, it'll be a miracle
Do you believe you're missing out
That everything good is happening somewhere else?
But with nobody in your bed
The night's hard to get through
And I will die all alone
And when I arrive, I won't know anyone
Well, Jesus Christ, I'm alone again
So what did you do those three days you were dead?
Cause this problem's gonna last more than the weekend
Well, Jesus Christ, I'm not scared to die
I'm a little bit scared of what comes after
Do I get the gold chariot?
Do I float through the ceiling?
Do I divide and fall apart?
Cause my bright is to slight to hold back all my dark
And the ship went down in sight of land
And at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?
I know you'll come in the night like a thief
But I've had some time alone to hone my lying technique
I know you think that I'm someone you can trust
But I'm scared I'll get scared, and I swear I'll try to nail you back up
So, do you think that we could work out a sign
So I'll know it's you and that it's over so I won't even try?
I know you'll come for the people like me
But we all got wood and nails
Tongue tied to a hating factory
But we all got wood and nails
And we turn out hate in factories
Yeah, we all got wood and nails
And we turn out hate in factories
Yeah, we all got wood and nails
And we sleep inside of this machine
Lyrics submitted by EMOrtal, edited by Mellow_Harsher, fob0403, OrcMaster, brandnewdude, contraddiction, ghostyyy, EternalTearsOfSorrow
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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:
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
I read through some of the comments, not all so apologies if this is a repeat of someone elses.
As a person with depression, this song had a really different meaning to me then a lot of people thought it to be.
Basically the song is about someone with a really shitty life, who is probably depressed, having a conversation with "Jesus Christ" about it because he's alone and he's gotten to a place where turning to some sort of faith is the only "comfort." Whether that faith is literally the Jesus Christ from Christianity or his own "Jesus Christ."
"Do I divide and fall apart?" He's asking if he should let all the bad in his life consume him and fall apart from life. A really big thing a lot of people suffering depression can really feel in touch with. Do you let it consume your life? Do you part from everything that "made" life for you?
"Cause my bright is to slight to hold back all my dark" Again, something anyone with depression can relate to. He's talking about there isn't enough good stuff happening in his life or within himself to make him move on from the bad. There isn't a good enough balance between the two, and he can only pretend he's fine for so long before the "darkness" breaks though.
"And the ship went down in sight of land" Pretty simple. He feels like he fell apart and got depression or was about to recover it right before "land". Land being where everything is better.
There's a lot of other parts I could give my explanation for but the result would be extremely long. Just, I interpret this song not as a war within someones self about religion or anything like that. It's just a kid, who is depressed, alone, confused, and has a pretty shit life talking to his "Jesus" about it all because he has no one to help him.
I heard this song last night for the first time and I just sobbed because it felt like he was singing my song, singing my thoughts. And I felt the exact same when I read your interpretation like you spoke the words right out of my mouth
I definitely think that this is the most accurate interpretation on here,
@Musiea You hit it right on the head bud.
@Musiea You hit it right on the nail. As I write this with tears in my eyes and this song on repeat for the last hour. I feel bad for feeling so hopeless.
@Musiea \r\n\r\nI think this is closer to the true meaning despite other comments also having good points. \r\n\r\n‘Jesus Christ, that\'s a pretty face\r\nThe kind you\'d find on someone I could save\r\nIf they don\'t put me away\r\nWell, it\'ll be a miracle’\r\n\r\nStarts with internal inquiry. He could think of helping others but realizes he’s in no position to do so as he can’t help himself.\r\n\r\n‘Do you believe you\'re missing out\r\nThat everything good is happening somewhere else?\r\nBut with nobody in your bed\r\nThe night\'s hard to get through’\r\n\r\nConsidering that negative things happen to you and u alone. \r\n\r\nAnd I will die all alone\r\nAnd when I arrive, I won\'t know anyone\r\n\r\nStart of Suicidal ideation. \r\n\r\nWell, Jesus Christ, I\'m alone again\r\nSo what did you do those three days you were dead?\r\nCause this problem\'s gonna last more than the weekend\r\n\r\nBiblical reference asking god what the purpose of his sacrifice was if he’s still miserable. Comparing his lonely life to the sacrifice of god. Actually kind of tells u he dosent necessarily view god as being a greater being than himself. He brought god to an equal playing field. Borders atheist thought.\r\n\r\nWell, Jesus Christ, I\'m not scared to die\r\nI\'m a little bit scared of what comes after\r\nDo I get the gold chariot?\r\nDo I float through the ceiling?\r\n\r\nNatural anxiety surrounding the unknown. Also the next stage in suicidal ideation. Further contemplation and further consideration to the possibility.\r\n\r\nDo I divide and fall apart?\r\nCause my bright is to slight to hold back all my dark\r\nAnd the ship went down in sight of land\r\nAnd at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?\r\n\r\nWhat u said. Do u succumb to depression in the end. Deciding to let it fully consume oneself despite being so close. Thomas is probably a person who the author feels will bring upon his judgement. Perhaps someone he wronged in the past who would be his judge at the gates of heaven/hell.\r\n\r\nI know you\'ll come in the night like a thief\r\nBut I\'ve had some time alone to hone my lying technique\r\nI know you think that I\'m someone you can trust\r\nBut I\'m scared I\'ll get scared, and I swear I\'ll try to nail you back up\r\n\r\nEventually death gets everyone. Can he fool you when he’s dead. Avoiding judgement. He knows when faced with decisions he’ll make a poor one. In a test of his character he would fail ultimately.\r\n\r\nSo, do you think that we could work out a sign\r\nSo I\'ll know it\'s you and that it\'s over so I won\'t even try?\r\n\r\nTrying to find another easy way out.\r\n\r\nI know you\'ll come for the people like me\r\nBut we all got wood and nails\r\nTongue tied to a hating factory\r\n\r\nResistance to change and the inevitable. \r\n\r\nBut we all got wood and nails\r\nAnd we turn out hate in factories\r\nYeah, we all got wood and nails\r\nAnd we turn out hate in factories\r\nYeah, we all got wood and nails\r\nAnd we sleep inside of this machine\r\n\r\nDefiance to change. Failure to overcome his depressive state. Recognition of his flawed being.\r\n\r\nInteresting lyrics though. Who can know for sure but I agree this song is highly related to depression and the thoughts one would have upon contemplating their own suicide and being a believer of god.
@Musiea \r\n\r\nI think this is closer to the true meaning despite other comments also having good points. \r\n\r\n‘Jesus Christ, that\'s a pretty face\r\nThe kind you\'d find on someone I could save\r\nIf they don\'t put me away\r\nWell, it\'ll be a miracle’\r\n\r\nStarts with internal inquiry. He could think of helping others but realizes he’s in no position to do so as he can’t help himself.\r\n\r\n‘Do you believe you\'re missing out\r\nThat everything good is happening somewhere else?\r\nBut with nobody in your bed\r\nThe night\'s hard to get through’\r\n\r\nConsidering that negative things happen to you and u alone. \r\n\r\nAnd I will die all alone\r\nAnd when I arrive, I won\'t know anyone\r\n\r\nStart of Suicidal ideation. \r\n\r\nWell, Jesus Christ, I\'m alone again\r\nSo what did you do those three days you were dead?\r\nCause this problem\'s gonna last more than the weekend\r\n\r\nBiblical reference asking god what the purpose of his sacrifice was if he’s still miserable. Comparing his lonely life to the sacrifice of god. Actually kind of tells u he dosent necessarily view god as being a greater being than himself. He brought god to an equal playing field. Borders atheist thought.\r\n\r\nWell, Jesus Christ, I\'m not scared to die\r\nI\'m a little bit scared of what comes after\r\nDo I get the gold chariot?\r\nDo I float through the ceiling?\r\n\r\nNatural anxiety surrounding the unknown. Also the next stage in suicidal ideation. Further contemplation and further consideration to the possibility.\r\n\r\nDo I divide and fall apart?\r\nCause my bright is to slight to hold back all my dark\r\nAnd the ship went down in sight of land\r\nAnd at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?\r\n\r\nWhat u said. Do u succumb to depression in the end. Deciding to let it fully consume oneself despite being so close. Thomas is probably a person who the author feels will bring upon his judgement. Perhaps someone he wronged in the past who would be his judge at the gates of heaven/hell.\r\n\r\nI know you\'ll come in the night like a thief\r\nBut I\'ve had some time alone to hone my lying technique\r\nI know you think that I\'m someone you can trust\r\nBut I\'m scared I\'ll get scared, and I swear I\'ll try to nail you back up\r\n\r\nEventually death gets everyone. Can he fool you when he’s dead. Avoiding judgement. He knows when faced with decisions he’ll make a poor one. In a test of his character he would fail ultimately.\r\n\r\nSo, do you think that we could work out a sign\r\nSo I\'ll know it\'s you and that it\'s over so I won\'t even try?\r\n\r\nTrying to find another easy way out.\r\n\r\nI know you\'ll come for the people like me\r\nBut we all got wood and nails\r\nTongue tied to a hating factory\r\n\r\nResistance to change and the inevitable. \r\n\r\nBut we all got wood and nails\r\nAnd we turn out hate in factories\r\nYeah, we all got wood and nails\r\nAnd we turn out hate in factories\r\nYeah, we all got wood and nails\r\nAnd we sleep inside of this machine\r\n\r\nDefiance to change. Failure to overcome his depressive state. Recognition of his flawed being.\r\n\r\nInteresting lyrics though. Who can know for sure but I agree this song is highly related to depression and the thoughts one would have upon contemplating their own suicide and being a believer of god.