"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.
Seed of doubt
It exists and it grows
A glimpse of life from somewhere deep within
Awake and understand
Is there anyone else here?
Somebody's screaming, Please help me
Let's find out now that I am not dreaming
Welcome to my damnation
Here it comes the real me
I didn't know, I couldn't hear the answer
My mind was blank I should have known
I hold it back but somehow there is someone else
Another stranger me
Another stranger me
That's When the ice Will break away
I can't get out of here anymore
'cause none of my keys fit the door
There's fear and anger, hate and love
I must confess, it's out of hand
It's physic
It's cynic
Still cynic
All my laughter
It's cynic
Just manic
It's cynic
All her laughter
If there's anyone in, it soon will be over
We'll burn out
Our soul's aflamed and we're on our own now
Give up you cruel invasion
You're insane I'll show you
I didn't know, I couldn't hear the answer
My mind was blank I should have known
I hold it back but somehow
There is someone else
Another stranger me
Out and gone
Can't resist
Cold and sore
The bolt of pain keeps ripping through my head
I can take no more
Don't tell anyone else but I do not believe her
She hates me
I cloud my mind she's a deceiver
I can feel cruel vibrations
Would you like to meet me
I didn't know, I couldn't hear the answer
My mind was blank I should have known
I hold it back but somehow there is someone else
Another stranger me
Another stranger me
It exists and it grows
A glimpse of life from somewhere deep within
Awake and understand
Is there anyone else here?
Somebody's screaming, Please help me
Let's find out now that I am not dreaming
Welcome to my damnation
Here it comes the real me
I didn't know, I couldn't hear the answer
My mind was blank I should have known
I hold it back but somehow there is someone else
Another stranger me
Another stranger me
That's When the ice Will break away
I can't get out of here anymore
'cause none of my keys fit the door
There's fear and anger, hate and love
I must confess, it's out of hand
It's physic
It's cynic
Still cynic
All my laughter
It's cynic
Just manic
It's cynic
All her laughter
If there's anyone in, it soon will be over
We'll burn out
Our soul's aflamed and we're on our own now
Give up you cruel invasion
You're insane I'll show you
I didn't know, I couldn't hear the answer
My mind was blank I should have known
I hold it back but somehow
There is someone else
Another stranger me
Out and gone
Can't resist
Cold and sore
The bolt of pain keeps ripping through my head
I can take no more
Don't tell anyone else but I do not believe her
She hates me
I cloud my mind she's a deceiver
I can feel cruel vibrations
Would you like to meet me
I didn't know, I couldn't hear the answer
My mind was blank I should have known
I hold it back but somehow there is someone else
Another stranger me
Another stranger me
Lyrics submitted by Afterburn
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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.
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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I always thought this song was about a drug addict. He tries to fight his addiction, but eventually he keeps succumbing to the drugs and unleashing the side of his personality that comes with them.
'Out and gone Can't resist Cold and sore The bolt of pain keeps ripping through my head I can take no more'
Also, the line 'Give up your cruel invasion' suggests that the obvious split personality is foreign to his body, further leading me further along my drug addict theory.