"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.
Like a gray bird in a blue sky over a blue ocean civilized men fly
Bomb repeat bomb repeat bomb
Through puffy clouds and beautiful rainbows with the power and the speed
And the will to succeed, moneyed men fly high
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb
No need to clomp around through the ash, the rubble, and the mud
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb
No need for face-to-face, or even worse to put a perfectly spit-shined brand new pair of leather boots on the dirty, busty ground
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb
Oh sure, you could mobilize a million troops
(but a thousand could probably get the job done)
But then people start to ask questions,
So when you drop in and out of the white clouds in a blue sky,
Don't worry about them having to see the whites of your eyes
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb
Just let the payload fly and wing on home, my son, it's not your day to die.
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
And when the crying starts, you won't have to see their bloodshot eyes turn red,
And when the dying starts, you won't have to know a thing about who's dead.
This is your mission: pretend it's television, where the good guys always win,
And they're gonna win again because you're gonna bomb.
Oh, they can keep talking, let 'em keep talking, they can talk while the bombs fall around them, for all I care.
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
But when you've had enough of this diplomatic bullshit and your patience is up well alright!
It's on, and they asked for it.
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
Ah, but you'll want to give yourself a minute, to take in the beauty of the sight.
As you come in over the mountains between the green earth and the sky and bomb yes.
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
In and out, no mess, no fuss.
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
And when the crying starts, you won't have to see their bloodshot eyes turn red.
And when the dying starts, you won't have to know a thing about who's dead.
This is your mission -- like television - where the good guys always win.
And we're gonna win again because you're gonna,
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
Bomb repeat bomb repeat bomb
Through puffy clouds and beautiful rainbows with the power and the speed
And the will to succeed, moneyed men fly high
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb
No need to clomp around through the ash, the rubble, and the mud
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb
No need for face-to-face, or even worse to put a perfectly spit-shined brand new pair of leather boots on the dirty, busty ground
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb
Oh sure, you could mobilize a million troops
(but a thousand could probably get the job done)
But then people start to ask questions,
So when you drop in and out of the white clouds in a blue sky,
Don't worry about them having to see the whites of your eyes
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb
Just let the payload fly and wing on home, my son, it's not your day to die.
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
And when the crying starts, you won't have to see their bloodshot eyes turn red,
And when the dying starts, you won't have to know a thing about who's dead.
This is your mission: pretend it's television, where the good guys always win,
And they're gonna win again because you're gonna bomb.
Oh, they can keep talking, let 'em keep talking, they can talk while the bombs fall around them, for all I care.
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
But when you've had enough of this diplomatic bullshit and your patience is up well alright!
It's on, and they asked for it.
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
Ah, but you'll want to give yourself a minute, to take in the beauty of the sight.
As you come in over the mountains between the green earth and the sky and bomb yes.
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
In and out, no mess, no fuss.
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
And when the crying starts, you won't have to see their bloodshot eyes turn red.
And when the dying starts, you won't have to know a thing about who's dead.
This is your mission -- like television - where the good guys always win.
And we're gonna win again because you're gonna,
Bomb, repeat, bomb, repeat, bomb.
Lyrics submitted by rockstermonkey, edited by katievcj
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Does this song even NEED translation? It's pretty straight forward.
gee, i wonder what this is about?
its not about iraq. its about the c.i.a funded military coup in guatamala in 1954 which was quite a bloody event.
I dont try to read to far into songs like which specific american event this song is about. I think you could get by just knowing thats its about a bomber pilot who drops bombs on innocent citizens and isnt effected by the emotional backlash of his actions because he doesnt see his victims.
hm. I do love this song. not the deepest to translate... BUT STILL! i looove this song.
So when you drop in and out of the white clouds in a blue sky, Don't worry about them having to see the whites of your blue eyes*