"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.
'Cause Jersey just got colder and
I'll have you know I'm scared to death
That everything that you had said to me was just
A lie until you left
Now I'm hoping just a little bit stronger
Hold me up just a little bit longer
I'll be fine, I swear
I'm just gone beyond repair
Let's write a song that we can dance to
'Cause they all wanna listen
Just to know how it sounds when
I do that thing you know that I do
When I find inspiration
This is me breaking down when
Jersey just got colder and
I'll have you know I'm scared to death
That everything that you had said to me was just
A lie until you left
Now I'm hoping just a little bit stronger
Hold me up just a little bit longer
I'll be fine, I swear
I'm just gone beyond repair
Let's write a song that we can sing to
And you can lead the choir
And put the hook where it hurts most
And you threw a spark that lit the candle
That set us all on fire
And sent a flame down the east coast
Jersey just got colder and
I'll have you know I'm scared to death
That everything that you had said to me was just
A lie until you left
Now I'm hoping just a little bit stronger
Hold me up just a little bit longer
I'll be fine, I swear
I'm just gone beyond repair
And I should have been your everything
I'm now at the end of my eternity
And I will sleep to have the darkest dreams
This just won't seem right to me
I close my eyes and beg for peace
Jersey just got colder and
Jersey just got colder and
Jersey just got colder and
Jersey just got colder and
I'll have you know I'm scared to death
That everything that you had said to me was just
A lie until you left
Now I'm hoping just a little bit stronger
Hold me up just a little bit longer
I'll be fine, I swear
I'm just gone beyond repair
I'll have you know I'm scared to death
That everything that you had said to me was just
A lie until you left
Now I'm hoping just a little bit stronger
Hold me up just a little bit longer
I'll be fine, I swear
I'm just gone beyond repair
Let's write a song that we can dance to
'Cause they all wanna listen
Just to know how it sounds when
I do that thing you know that I do
When I find inspiration
This is me breaking down when
Jersey just got colder and
I'll have you know I'm scared to death
That everything that you had said to me was just
A lie until you left
Now I'm hoping just a little bit stronger
Hold me up just a little bit longer
I'll be fine, I swear
I'm just gone beyond repair
Let's write a song that we can sing to
And you can lead the choir
And put the hook where it hurts most
And you threw a spark that lit the candle
That set us all on fire
And sent a flame down the east coast
Jersey just got colder and
I'll have you know I'm scared to death
That everything that you had said to me was just
A lie until you left
Now I'm hoping just a little bit stronger
Hold me up just a little bit longer
I'll be fine, I swear
I'm just gone beyond repair
And I should have been your everything
I'm now at the end of my eternity
And I will sleep to have the darkest dreams
This just won't seem right to me
I close my eyes and beg for peace
Jersey just got colder and
Jersey just got colder and
Jersey just got colder and
Jersey just got colder and
I'll have you know I'm scared to death
That everything that you had said to me was just
A lie until you left
Now I'm hoping just a little bit stronger
Hold me up just a little bit longer
I'll be fine, I swear
I'm just gone beyond repair
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
"Let's write a song that we can dance to 'Cause they all wanna listen Just to know how it sounds when I do that thing you know that I do When I find inspiration Well, this is me breaking down when..."
He's talking about writing a song because that’s what he does- he is a musician. When he finds inspiration, he writes songs to express himself.
"And let's write a song that we can sing to And you can lead the choir And put the hook where it hurts the most And you threw a spark that lit the candle That set us all on fire And sent a flame down the East Coast"
He found something out in jersey and the flame or ‘fire’ in him went out, making jersey colder. He hoping that everything that she told him wasn’t a lie. and that is what is keeping him going for just a little longer.
"And I should have been your everything And now at the end of my eternity And I will sleep to have the darkest dreams As this just won't seem right to me I close my eyes and beg for peace"
He should be hers, but now that he isn’t, he doesn’t want to go on anymore. He dreams of her and now everything he does- writing, singing- doesn’t seem like it used to because she was his inspiration and motivation.
that's what i got from it. it might be completely wrong, but whatever. they were so good live. i saw them at warped and love them now! haha
i love the part that goes "And you threw a spark that lit the candle that set us all on fire and sent a FLAAMMEEEE down the EEEAAASSTT coast"
i'm going to really miss Jason's voice! but i guess i can listen to Go Radio for that now. haha. anyway, this song is so good, one of my favorites on the CD
lmfao bro check the bands fuckin myspace it has the official tracklisting for the cd, and the song is called jersey. do your research next time before you go talking shit.
Chill out man. I didn't and won't listen to the leak. I heard the song on AOL radio, and wanted to find out the lyrics for myself. And I figured I might as well post em up somewhere.
He's right. The song is called Jersey. Ironic seeing as how their from Florida.
I just went and looked at the official track listings from fearlessrecords.com and they only have 2 of the original songs. "Jamie All Over" and of course "When I Get Home, Your So Dead"
Kinda depressing cause I was hoping either One Man or Last Something would make it.
i love how that person was freaking out. its called jersey adn you can hear it on aol radio. douche. but seriously, this song is gonna be on high rotation when the cd comes out, i freak out now when its on AOL. these guys are just o-gasmic!
i was reading stuff on the web and blogs and this and back cat supposedly have hidden meanings
"I'll do that thing you know that I do Where I find inspiration"
i think this part reffers to drug use..i could be wrong
you are wrong...the lead singer, derek doesn't even drink. and none of the boys do drugs..so i highly doubt they'd be writing about that.
actually, derek broke edge and drinks all the time. and i think this was actually written while they were in jersey on tour. not sure though.
Jason is still on the CD, which made me really happy. This song is great, I love the whole CD, except Black Cat, I just don't really like that song very much. Great fucking band.