"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.
You float in a million lights
But the one you seek is not there
You fight in a million fights
But it's yourself you cannot bear
You think you are a leader
But you turn everyone away
You think you are a preacher
But you can't turn night into day
Well there is something inside of me
And I know that it's growing
Well the thing that will forever be
And I feel its shadow calling
It is the fear that drives you mad
It is the fear that makes you blind
It is the fear that keeps you sad
It is the fear that kills your mind
You think you can make things grow
But in truth you are like a desert
You think it's not your ego
And that others make you hurt
You have learned how to deceive
And yourself is all you can hear
You think you really believe
But deep down you are only fear
There is something inside of me
That makes me run against the wall
The thing my eyes don't want to see
That will obliterate my soul
It is the fear that eats you up
It is the fear that makes you cry
It is the fear that takes you down
It is the fear that will not die
It is the fear that eats you up
It is the fear that makes you cry
It is the fear that takes you down
It is the fear that will not die
Everyone's afraid but that's no excuse
Everyone's afraid but that's no excuse
Everyone's afraid but that's no excuse
Everyone's afraid but that's no excuse
Everyone's afraid
But the one you seek is not there
You fight in a million fights
But it's yourself you cannot bear
You think you are a leader
But you turn everyone away
You think you are a preacher
But you can't turn night into day
Well there is something inside of me
And I know that it's growing
Well the thing that will forever be
And I feel its shadow calling
It is the fear that drives you mad
It is the fear that makes you blind
It is the fear that keeps you sad
It is the fear that kills your mind
You think you can make things grow
But in truth you are like a desert
You think it's not your ego
And that others make you hurt
You have learned how to deceive
And yourself is all you can hear
You think you really believe
But deep down you are only fear
There is something inside of me
That makes me run against the wall
The thing my eyes don't want to see
That will obliterate my soul
It is the fear that eats you up
It is the fear that makes you cry
It is the fear that takes you down
It is the fear that will not die
It is the fear that eats you up
It is the fear that makes you cry
It is the fear that takes you down
It is the fear that will not die
Everyone's afraid but that's no excuse
Everyone's afraid but that's no excuse
Everyone's afraid but that's no excuse
Everyone's afraid but that's no excuse
Everyone's afraid
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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.
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.
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.
my favourite mind.in.a.box song. it's so goregous. i think it's about someone who's using fear as an excuse for not living life to the fullest, and someone else saying it;s not an excuse, because everyone's afraid.