"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.
There comes a time
For everyone
To sit down and assess
What's there and what is not there
Eternally up in the air
And it seems that time has come for you
And it figures now
I was only the one who needed to appear
And 'cause a turn of events
To force a turn of events
It's also fitting somehow
That I should be the last to know
And I'm blown away
When my friend tells me that it's so
What did I give you?
That's harder to answer than what did I take
What did I mean to you?
For everyone
To sit down and assess
What's there and what is not there
Eternally up in the air
And it seems that time has come for you
And it figures now
I was only the one who needed to appear
And 'cause a turn of events
To force a turn of events
It's also fitting somehow
That I should be the last to know
And I'm blown away
When my friend tells me that it's so
What did I give you?
That's harder to answer than what did I take
What did I mean to you?
Lyrics submitted by laurentertaining
Figures Lyrics as written by Marcin Tadeusz Oez Erlend Otre Oeye
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
Well I am really confused by this. But, maybe he has a failing relationship, and he wants it to change for the better but his girl wants to end it. She told all of his friends first and he doesn't know why. He wonders what he did wrong. I am probably completely wrong but whatever, great song
Well to shed a little more light on it, I can tell a current story that is applicable. Maybe it'll add to your understanding.
I once knew a girl who was quite lovely, inside and out, who became very special to me. Me and that girl became very close, and my victory was at hand. We could've been together and been happy. But there was another girl that I had liked for a long time, nothing too serious, but just always wanted to be with her.
Like a fool, I chose that girl over the first one. She broke up with me in less than 3 weeks. I threw away something that could've been one of the best things I've ever had.
One day, I realized this, and I knew that I just had to get her back. I needed to feel that again. I needed her love, and I know she needed mine. I would come back anew, knowledgeable of my stupid mistake and willing to change, and we could be together.
But it wasn't that easy. It seldom is actually.
This time around, I had competition. Two boys, one from her past, and a new one. And then me.
In the end, I lost.
That's the history. Here's how it's even the slightest bit applicable.
"There comes a time For everyone To sit down and assess what's there and what is not there Eternally up in the air"
-I'm sitting here knowing I don't have her and I'm miserable inside.
"And it seems that time has come for you And it figures now I was only the one who needed to appear and cause a turn of events To force a turn of events"
-Me wanting to be with her again is really what set off this whole competition. Made it fierce, and she really had a tough time for about 3 months.
"It's also fitting somehow That I should be the last to know And I'm blown away When my friend tells me that it's so What did I give you That's harder to answer than what did I take"
-It's fitting I should feel like this shit because I led her on, and she's led me on too now. -Her best friend, who's my best friend ended up telling me.
"What did I mean to you?" -Self explanatory. I wonder it myself.
I feel in my heart that she and I will be together someday. I mean, I fucked her up and let her down and hurt her. Now, she's fucked me up and let me down and hurt me. If Hollywood cliches are right (And think about it, cliches are cliches because they actually happen) it should be a movie script ending where we both fall madly in love together and end up holding eachother as the screen fades to black. Hahahahaah.
Wishful thinking, but to quote Ben Gibbard:
"And I do believe it's true, that there are roads left in both of our shoes."
There's my $0.02.
SirWinston, Yes This is the proper turn of events for you. Im sure of it. best.
... cliches... are actually cliches... because they're corny... not because they actually happen... something can be cliche because its just happened a lot in MOVIES. not because it happens a lot in real life. more often than not, the themes are of hope and upliftment... what we need a lot more of (and hence have relatively little of) in a world this dark and treacherous .
do you guys like sublime?
People should take a special moment of pause to "assess what's there and what is not there".
Because maybe, just maybe, the roots of worry and misery of life is "Eternally up in the air". Doctrine & dogma... or simple daydreaming & overthinking... All relates to the brain put up on a position much to high compare to the heart, you know...
While the 2nd paragraph is about the harmony and synchronicity of the whole universe of creation and you, yes you, every one of you, dear living creature...
and after that, these kind of feeling appear:
*That I should be the last to know >>> lots of art and literature has already talking about this, metarphiricly or vividly, throughout the histories...
When my friend tells me that it's so >>> even there are people around are knowing it, but maybe, they dont talk about it much ('cause essentially, silence is the way ;)
After the phase of soul family searching (it never stop just there, though, the creation of heaven for all the living being, takes place.
What did I give you That's harder to answer than what did I take
What did I mean to you?
Love unconditionally,-