"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.
My generation's for sale
Beats a steady job
How much have you got?
My generation don't trust no one
It's hard to blame
Not even ourselves
The thing that's real for us is: fortune and fame
All the rest seems like work
It's just like diamonds
In shit
I'm high class, I'm a whore
Actually both
Basically, I'm a pro
We've all got our own style of baggage
Why hump it yourself?
You've made me an offer that I can refuse
'Cause either way I get screwed
Counter proposal: I go home and jerk off, uh
It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
You don't own, you don't own, you don't own, you don't own
You don't own what none can buy
You don't own
(You don't own)
Neither do I
High and mighty, you say selling out is a shame
Is that the name of your book?
Push a silver spoon in your ass
No more holding us
Down, dog, down, mutt, nice mutt
You're insulted you can't be bought or sold
Translation: offer too low
You don't know what you're worth
It isn't much
My piano's for sale
How many times must I sell myself
Before my pieces are gone?
I'm one of a kind! I'm designer!
Never again will I repeat myself
Enough is never enough
Never again will I repeat myself
It used to be the plan was screwing the man
Now it's have sex with a man
(After he buys your dot-com for sale at a low, low price)
It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
You don't own, you don't own, you don't own me
You don't own what none can buy
You don't own...
You don't own what none can buy
Neither do I
Beats a steady job
How much have you got?
My generation don't trust no one
It's hard to blame
Not even ourselves
The thing that's real for us is: fortune and fame
All the rest seems like work
It's just like diamonds
In shit
I'm high class, I'm a whore
Actually both
Basically, I'm a pro
We've all got our own style of baggage
Why hump it yourself?
You've made me an offer that I can refuse
'Cause either way I get screwed
Counter proposal: I go home and jerk off, uh
It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
You don't own, you don't own, you don't own, you don't own
You don't own what none can buy
You don't own
(You don't own)
Neither do I
High and mighty, you say selling out is a shame
Is that the name of your book?
Push a silver spoon in your ass
No more holding us
Down, dog, down, mutt, nice mutt
You're insulted you can't be bought or sold
Translation: offer too low
You don't know what you're worth
It isn't much
My piano's for sale
How many times must I sell myself
Before my pieces are gone?
I'm one of a kind! I'm designer!
Never again will I repeat myself
Enough is never enough
Never again will I repeat myself
It used to be the plan was screwing the man
Now it's have sex with a man
(After he buys your dot-com for sale at a low, low price)
It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
It's truly a lie
I counterfeit myself
You don't own, you don't own, you don't own me
You don't own what none can buy
You don't own...
You don't own what none can buy
Neither do I
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
"High and mighty, you say that selling out is a shame because you've written a brand new book, and that's what it's called. And now I'd like to invite that the book writer push a sliver spoon up his ass because he's had everything given to him his whole life. Now, sit, stay, roll over, do what you're told" - Josh @ 3voor12 Radio, Amsterdam 07/03/2007. Make sense to you?