"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.
Where's my will
Can I find a way?
The earth is wild
And I can't sit still
A familiar sound
A familiar voice
Makes it so hard
To make a choice
I don't know if I should stay
A thousand stars
You will have my word
I'm bright enough
To fill these cracks
A familiar place
A familiar voice
Makes it so hard
To make a choice
I don't know if I should stay
I ran to you like water
I threw my body in
And I'll stand up on the ocean
Just to show you that I am strong, strong
But what if I am wrong
A familiar look
A familiar smile
Makes it so hard
To make a choice
I don't know if I should stay away
Can I find a way?
The earth is wild
And I can't sit still
A familiar sound
A familiar voice
Makes it so hard
To make a choice
I don't know if I should stay
A thousand stars
You will have my word
I'm bright enough
To fill these cracks
A familiar place
A familiar voice
Makes it so hard
To make a choice
I don't know if I should stay
I ran to you like water
I threw my body in
And I'll stand up on the ocean
Just to show you that I am strong, strong
But what if I am wrong
A familiar look
A familiar smile
Makes it so hard
To make a choice
I don't know if I should stay away
Lyrics submitted by x0xReady4Youx0x
I Don't Know If I Should Stay Lyrics as written by Jeen O'brien Greg Johnston
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
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.
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.
first off i'm just going to say that this is by far the best song that alexz johnson sings and i have it on repeat.
anyways... this song is about a girl that thinks that she's over a guy but in fact she can't stop thinking about this guy and she keeps thinking about him and doesn't know if she should stay away from him. she wantss to show him that she's over him but by singing this song it shows that she isn't anywhere near over him.
The Actual Lyrics Go Like This:: Where's my will Can I find the way The earth is wild and I can't sit still
A familiar sound A familar voice Makes it's so hard To make a choice I don't know if I should stay
A thousand stars You will have my word I'm bright enough To fill these cracks
A familiar place A familiar voice Makes it so hard To make a choice I don't know if I should stay
I'll run to you like water Threw my body in, and I'll stand up on the ocean Just to show you that I am strong,strong But what if I'm wrong?
A familiar Look A familiar Smile Makes it so hard To make a choice I don't know if I should stay Ooooh... Away...
And I Totally Agree With BlondeHoney10xx
I've corrected these lyrics on like 11 different websites now! :\ The actual lyrics from the official website are:
Where's my will Can I find a way The earth is wild And I can't sit still A familiar sound A familiar voice Makes it so hard to make a choice I don't know if I should stay
A thousand stars You will have my word Aren't bright enough To fill these cracks A familiar place A familiar voice Makes it so hard to make a choice I don't know if I should stay
I ran to you like water I throw my body in And I'll stand upon the ocean Just to show you that I am strong Strong But what if I am wrong?
A familiar look A familiar style Makes it so hard to make a choice I don't know if I should stay Mmmmm Away
Actually the lyrics are:
Wheres my will Can I find a way The earth is wild And I cant sit still
A familiar sound A familiar voice Makes it so hard To make a choice I dont know if I should stay
A thousand stars You will have my word Aren't bright enough To fill these cracks
A familiar place A familiar voice Makes it so hard To make a choice I dont know if I should stay
I ran to you like water I threw my body in And I'll stand upon the ocean Just to show you that I am strong, strong But what if I am wrong
A familiar look A familiar SMILE Makes it so hard To make a choice I don't know if I should saty Mmmmmm Away.
ha i love how simple this is, especially if u watch the show... its practically about making a choice between tommy and jamie. or u cud say its jsut about her feelings toward tommy, someone she will no matter what always 'run to like water', and how she doesn't know if its better for her to leave the feelings behind or to stay and keep going thru all the drama tommy causes..... id choose the drama anyday it makes such awesome tv lol!!
"ill stand up on the ocean, jsut to show u that i am strong, strong.... but what if i am wrong?"
the question at the end is beautiful it completely sums up her vulnerabilty and dependency on this guy who has complete control over her and she wants him to save her. and the way she sings it is awesome, the articulated words ahh so good. yea u can tell i love it...
ha i love how simple this is, especially if u watch the show... its practically about making a choice between tommy and jamie. or u cud say its jsut about her feelings toward tommy, someone she will no matter what always 'run to like water', and how she doesn't know if its better for her to leave the feelings behind or to stay and keep going thru all the drama tommy causes..... id choose the drama anyday it makes such awesome tv lol!!
"ill stand up on the ocean, jsut to show u that i am strong, strong.... but what if i am wrong?"
the question at the end is beautiful it completely sums up her vulnerabilty and dependency on this guy who has complete control over her and she wants him to save her. and the way she sings it is awesome, the articulated words ahh so good. yea u can tell i love it...
I agree that this is one of Alexz best songs. I adore it and I love her vocals on this song.
definitely one of her best, vocally. love her!
Yes I agree one of the best songs. And with her voice, so beautiful and alnost lightto where you have to stop what you are doing to listen to her and get the full message. It really brings out the power in this song. What a voice for the ballads. I love it. And though this song is clearly her trying to make a decision between two guys, I think it can apply to other areas of life. Making changes like moving or going back to school, going to visit the doctor when you suspect something is wrong. Change can be scary and all we can ever do is hope we've made the right choice. I'm sure that is one of everyones biggerst fears; that we made the wrong one and our lives change for the worse.
Still a good song and a great show. I miss it