"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.
Walk it off
Pick up all the pieces of your broken heart
You don't have to worry
She don't care no more
She ain't there no more
Hit the wall
'Cause no one you can call is gonna ease your pain
Take your torn umbrella out into the rain
Walk it off
Run
Boy you were born to run
Now the day has come
She's left you standin' still
So deal
How does it feel
To have to face the fact
She ain't coming back
Walk it off
Run
Boy you were born to run
Now the day has come
She's left you standin' still
So deal
How does it feel
To have to face the fact
She ain't coming back
Walk it off
Walk it off
Though you might not ever see her face again
Sittin' here alone just scares you half to death
Boy don't hold your breath
Walk it off
Pick up all the pieces of your broken heart
You don't have to worry
She don't care no more
She ain't there no more
Hit the wall
'Cause no one you can call is gonna ease your pain
Take your torn umbrella out into the rain
Walk it off
Run
Boy you were born to run
Now the day has come
She's left you standin' still
So deal
How does it feel
To have to face the fact
She ain't coming back
Walk it off
Run
Boy you were born to run
Now the day has come
She's left you standin' still
So deal
How does it feel
To have to face the fact
She ain't coming back
Walk it off
Walk it off
Though you might not ever see her face again
Sittin' here alone just scares you half to death
Boy don't hold your breath
Walk it off
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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Ed Sheeran
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