"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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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,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
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.