"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.
When all is gone, and things go wrong
We don't need them anymore
The artifacts and all they lack
We don't need them anymore
I don't have the means, and so it seems
For now I can't participate
But I've waited long
Now the dollar's strong again
I still can't participate
When we don't consume it seems we are immune
To all of the thoughts they sell
You know as well as I, that's a lie
'Cause I want to spend, I want to spend
In a never-ending story, but it always ends
I want to spend, I want to spend
In a never-ending story, but it always ends
And when I die, the angels will try
To count all my belongings
To measure my worth, pure gold, solid dirt
To see if I'm worth keeping
But the house I rent and the car I drive
I'm sorry but they ain't mine
You know as well as I, that's no lie
'Cause I want to spend, I want to spend
In a never-ending story, but it always ends
I want to spend, I want to spend
In a never-ending story, but it always ends
And it always ends, and it always ends
We don't need them anymore
The artifacts and all they lack
We don't need them anymore
I don't have the means, and so it seems
For now I can't participate
But I've waited long
Now the dollar's strong again
I still can't participate
When we don't consume it seems we are immune
To all of the thoughts they sell
You know as well as I, that's a lie
'Cause I want to spend, I want to spend
In a never-ending story, but it always ends
I want to spend, I want to spend
In a never-ending story, but it always ends
And when I die, the angels will try
To count all my belongings
To measure my worth, pure gold, solid dirt
To see if I'm worth keeping
But the house I rent and the car I drive
I'm sorry but they ain't mine
You know as well as I, that's no lie
'Cause I want to spend, I want to spend
In a never-ending story, but it always ends
I want to spend, I want to spend
In a never-ending story, but it always ends
And it always ends, and it always ends
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
I always assumed that this was about how man is constanly stuck in a continuous circle of want and greed. Possibly they are even making an attack at Capitalism, such as the use of the phrase "the dollar is strong." I don't know, but America is kinda a symbol of Capitalism. However I should say that these thoughts came to me when I was stoned, so they may not be worth much.
This song might be a summary of all the songs on the entire album "Writers Block". Most of these lyrics explain issues that are present in each song. And the song title might have somthing to do with the meaning as well.
i'm pretty sure this song has to do with consumerism and how people now-a-days want things they can't have and are just looking to spend money. "When we don't consume it seems we are immune To all of the thoughts they sell, You know as well as I, that's a lie..."