"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.
Tonight will be preceded by
A few drinks to calm me down
To settle my gut, to work up a smile
Because your bones are shakin'
Baby, agitate my nerves
I'm feeling reckless
And I feel the need to stress this
I'm stepping out
And I'll do this till I'm somebody else
Well, tonight I'll be a classic work
Like Edgar Allan Poe
And I'll die on these streets of Baltimore
As a beggar, john, or buyer
Look, I'm just trying to score
But at least I won't be out alone
I'm with my uncle and his mother
And the rest of my family's history
Is with me, shouting, "Have another!"
Now I'm taking all the liberties
I was too scared to before
I've accepted that we're just chemicals
Now bend over and touch the floor
Plan A has got a boyfriend
But she melts to my touch
Plan B has got a crush
As much as she's got a lust
Plan C well, God forgive me
Well, she, she just lives to fuck
I'll just act like I'm not in control
Well I'm feeling reckless
And I feel the need to stress this
I'm stepping out
And I'll take this, drink think, do this, smoke this
Fuck you while we're somebody else
But at least I won't be out alone
I'm with my uncle and his mother
And the rest of my family's history
Is with me, shouting, "Have another!"
Now I'm taking all the liberties
I was too scared to before
I've accepted that we're just chemicals
Now bend over and touch the floor
Shut up and dance
Ms. sings in her sleep
Ms. moves to my beat
What kind of secrets are we keeping tonight?
Because he's not here and he's not waiting up
How about another spin around the floor?
But at least I won't be out alone
I'm with my uncle and his mother
And the rest of my family history
Is with me, shouting, "Have another!"
Be sure I'm slutting it up
'Cause I know love's not enough
And I'll be outside the bar
Hopes for the back of her car
She's got wandering eyes
And much more curious lips
And I'm still betting every dime
She answers as her skirt slides over her hips
A few drinks to calm me down
To settle my gut, to work up a smile
Because your bones are shakin'
Baby, agitate my nerves
I'm feeling reckless
And I feel the need to stress this
I'm stepping out
And I'll do this till I'm somebody else
Well, tonight I'll be a classic work
Like Edgar Allan Poe
And I'll die on these streets of Baltimore
As a beggar, john, or buyer
Look, I'm just trying to score
But at least I won't be out alone
I'm with my uncle and his mother
And the rest of my family's history
Is with me, shouting, "Have another!"
Now I'm taking all the liberties
I was too scared to before
I've accepted that we're just chemicals
Now bend over and touch the floor
Plan A has got a boyfriend
But she melts to my touch
Plan B has got a crush
As much as she's got a lust
Plan C well, God forgive me
Well, she, she just lives to fuck
I'll just act like I'm not in control
Well I'm feeling reckless
And I feel the need to stress this
I'm stepping out
And I'll take this, drink think, do this, smoke this
Fuck you while we're somebody else
But at least I won't be out alone
I'm with my uncle and his mother
And the rest of my family's history
Is with me, shouting, "Have another!"
Now I'm taking all the liberties
I was too scared to before
I've accepted that we're just chemicals
Now bend over and touch the floor
Shut up and dance
Ms. sings in her sleep
Ms. moves to my beat
What kind of secrets are we keeping tonight?
Because he's not here and he's not waiting up
How about another spin around the floor?
But at least I won't be out alone
I'm with my uncle and his mother
And the rest of my family history
Is with me, shouting, "Have another!"
Be sure I'm slutting it up
'Cause I know love's not enough
And I'll be outside the bar
Hopes for the back of her car
She's got wandering eyes
And much more curious lips
And I'm still betting every dime
She answers as her skirt slides over her hips
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Just because they drink, doesn't make them alcoholics. It just means he doesn't see why he should do any better than they have before him.
It's the best fucking song ever written about hedonism, hating who you are, and doing anything you can to escape it and feel something for a change.
Easily my favorite song by You, Me, And Everyone We Know. This band has definately got some talent.
Amazing band and song. Is it just me or does it seem like he is referencing alcoholism (I'm with my uncle and his mother and the rest of my family's history is with me shouting, "HAVE ANOTHER!")?
wow, i feel stupid. i always thought they were saying 'preacher, i'm slutting it up cause i know love's not enough' like he was 'confessing' he's been kind of tricking girls into thinking he's 'not in control' hahaha. either way, i love this song.<br /> <br /> in my opnion, its about partying and fucking whoever you want, then blaming it on the alcohol and drugs, because he doesn't believe in love and doesn't want a relationship with any of the girls. alcohol gives him confidence, as well as an excuse.<br /> <br /> and i agree with lamantle about the line:<br /> 'im with my uncle and his mother, and the rest of my family's history's with me shouting 'HAVE ANOTHER!'<br /> being about alcoholism in the family.
this is fucking brilliant
this is fucking brilliant
i fuckin' love it.
I think this song is about him getting totally wasted just so he can bring himself to sleep with whoever he finds. Especially the whole "And I'll take this, drink think, do this, smoke this Fuck you while we're somebody else" It kind of sums up the song.
that line on the original demo version was "take this, drink this, do this, smoke this, fuck you TILL i'm somebody else" which i like 100x better.
it just means he doesn't like the person he is and is trying to change himself through drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex.
...i love it.
Yeah, Lamantle, the family history [And the rest of my family's history is with me shouting, "HAVE ANOTHER!"] is definitely about alcoholism.
I agree with morningsidedj on the meaning.
I can certianly relate to that line
And the rest of my family's history is with me shouting, "HAVE ANOTHER!"
so powerful.