"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.
Well, you said you wanted war
But nobody wants to fail the future
If you say it's too late
It's not too late, it's not too late, whoa
I wanna wake up on the day I found you
I wanna wrap these shaky arms around you
I wanna find a decent way to tell you
I need to spend some time alone
I wanna take this in the wrong direction
I wanna say this to my own reflection
I wanna find a decent way to tell you
I need to spend some time alone
Right now, it was the words that you were gunning for
All I wanted was to let you know
Just wait a second
And I'll give you what you're waiting for
I'll make a promise and refuse to show
Things fall apart
Well, you said you wanted more
(You said you wanted more)
But nobody wants to wait forever
If you say it's too late
It's not too late, it's not too late, whoa
I wanna show you all the things I promised
I wanna give away the things I won't miss
I wanna find a decent way to tell you
I need to spend some time alone
I wanna write down all the things you say
I wanna have you in you my life today
I'm gonna shout it from the rooftops
Cause I'm tired of being alone
Right now, it was the words that you were gunning for
All I wanted was to let you know
Just wait a second
And I'll give you what you're waiting for
I'll make a promise and refuse to show (x2)
Our heads down in the back of the van
Our heads down in the back of the van
Our heads down in the back of the van, whoa
Our heads down in the back of the van
Our heads down in the back of the van
Our heads down in the back of the van, whoa
Not too late
Don't have to wait
You want it all
Not too late
(Our heads down in the back of the van)
Don't have to wait
(Our heads down in the back of the van)
You want it all
(Our heads down in the back of the van)
Right now you know
Everything that you said
Just forget about it
Right now you know, whoa
Right now you know
Everything that you said
Just forget about it
Right now you know
Right now you know
Everything that you said
Just forget about it
Right now you know, whoa
But nobody wants to fail the future
If you say it's too late
It's not too late, it's not too late, whoa
I wanna wake up on the day I found you
I wanna wrap these shaky arms around you
I wanna find a decent way to tell you
I need to spend some time alone
I wanna take this in the wrong direction
I wanna say this to my own reflection
I wanna find a decent way to tell you
I need to spend some time alone
Right now, it was the words that you were gunning for
All I wanted was to let you know
Just wait a second
And I'll give you what you're waiting for
I'll make a promise and refuse to show
Things fall apart
Well, you said you wanted more
(You said you wanted more)
But nobody wants to wait forever
If you say it's too late
It's not too late, it's not too late, whoa
I wanna show you all the things I promised
I wanna give away the things I won't miss
I wanna find a decent way to tell you
I need to spend some time alone
I wanna write down all the things you say
I wanna have you in you my life today
I'm gonna shout it from the rooftops
Cause I'm tired of being alone
Right now, it was the words that you were gunning for
All I wanted was to let you know
Just wait a second
And I'll give you what you're waiting for
I'll make a promise and refuse to show (x2)
Our heads down in the back of the van
Our heads down in the back of the van
Our heads down in the back of the van, whoa
Our heads down in the back of the van
Our heads down in the back of the van
Our heads down in the back of the van, whoa
Not too late
Don't have to wait
You want it all
Not too late
(Our heads down in the back of the van)
Don't have to wait
(Our heads down in the back of the van)
You want it all
(Our heads down in the back of the van)
Right now you know
Everything that you said
Just forget about it
Right now you know, whoa
Right now you know
Everything that you said
Just forget about it
Right now you know
Right now you know
Everything that you said
Just forget about it
Right now you know, whoa
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
This is one of my favorite songs. Like, of ever. They're amazing, rec'd and live. And they're all really nice!!!