"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.
don't you dare tell me i am the reason we are here
i spend enough sleepless nights in this bed
to know this isn't just all in my head.
d-d-d-don't you say
that i'm ruining what we've made
we know enough to know we're both to blame
it's like you're leaving but you don't know the way
so i say..
i can't believe myself
i'm wishing to be anyone else
and i'm feeling like all this hell might change something good
in the end
and i, oh i just can't find a reason why
why you intentionally say goodbye
if this mess were up to me, we'd see eye-to-eye
but you get bored and run from the honest life
sometimes it's where you're making me lose my mind
so i'll keep singing...
i can't believe myself
i'm wishing to be anyone else
and i'm feeling like all this hell might change something good
in the end...
it was the look on your face when i called out your name
it was the days waiting for you alone in the rain
take me back to the top when i wish you could stay
now i'm here
it's the first step where i watch you fade away
i can't believe myself
i'm wishing to be anyone else
and i'm feeling like all this hell might change something good
in the end
..oh my god, this town, it feels like a headache...
..you were a safe bet.. a safe bet..
..i'm falling in and out of love.. finally stopping what we were made of..
i spend enough sleepless nights in this bed
to know this isn't just all in my head.
d-d-d-don't you say
that i'm ruining what we've made
we know enough to know we're both to blame
it's like you're leaving but you don't know the way
so i say..
i can't believe myself
i'm wishing to be anyone else
and i'm feeling like all this hell might change something good
in the end
and i, oh i just can't find a reason why
why you intentionally say goodbye
if this mess were up to me, we'd see eye-to-eye
but you get bored and run from the honest life
sometimes it's where you're making me lose my mind
so i'll keep singing...
i can't believe myself
i'm wishing to be anyone else
and i'm feeling like all this hell might change something good
in the end...
it was the look on your face when i called out your name
it was the days waiting for you alone in the rain
take me back to the top when i wish you could stay
now i'm here
it's the first step where i watch you fade away
i can't believe myself
i'm wishing to be anyone else
and i'm feeling like all this hell might change something good
in the end
..oh my god, this town, it feels like a headache...
..you were a safe bet.. a safe bet..
..i'm falling in and out of love.. finally stopping what we were made of..
Lyrics submitted by loveisaverb
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”
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.
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.
ohh i love this song i think the question mark is "waiting for you ..." and i like how it incorporates clouds, safe bet, and books&letters.
ah, i love the morning light..they'll be big soon enough, i just hope their music stays as good
this is probably my favorite song about them..this song is so easy to identify with, whether it be with a friend or romantic other.
i think it's "shape something good", not change something good.
but i love this song. :]
Ditto about the "shape" not "change".
And I think it's "Sometimes I swear you're making me lose my mind" not "it's where".
The correct lyrics are "Don’t you dare tell me I am the reason we are here I spend enough sleepless nights in this bed To know this isn't just all in my head.
D-d-d-don't you say That I’m ruining what we've made We know enough to know we're both to blame It’s like you're leaving but you don't know the way So I say..
I can't believe myself I’m wishing to be anyone else And I’m feeling like all this hell might shape something good In the end
And I, oh I just can't find a reason why Why you intentionally say goodbye If this mess were up to me, we'd see eye-to-eye But you get bored and run from the honest life Sometimes I swear you're making me lose my mind So I’ll keep singing...
I can't believe myself I’m wishing to be anyone else And I’m feeling like all this hell might shape something good In the end... (Ahhh)
It was the look on your face when I called out your name It was the days waiting for you alone in the rain Take me back to the top when I wish you could stay Now I’m here it's your first step where I watch you fade away
I can't believe myself I’m wishing to be anyone else And I’m feeling like all this hell might shape something good In the end
(..Oh my god, this town, it feels like a headache... ..I thought you were a safe bet... a safe bet… …I’m falling in and out of love... finally stopping what we were made of..)
I’m falling in and out of love, finally stopping what we were made of " i think (: