"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.
Little girl terrified
She'd leave her room if only bruises would heal
A home is no place to hide
Her heart is breaking from the pain that she feels
Every day's the same
She fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides
And tries to pray
She wonders why
Does anyone ever hear her when she cries
Today she's turning sixteen
Everyone singing, but she can't seem to smile
They never get past arms length
How could they act like everything is alright?
Pulling down her long sleeves
To cover all the memories that scars leave
She says, "maybe making me bleed
Will be the answer that could wash the slate clean"
Every day's the same
She fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides
And tries to pray
She wonders why
Does anyone ever hear her when she cries
This is the dark before the dawn
The storm before the peace
Don't be afraid 'cause seasons change
And God is watching over you
He hears you
Every day's the same
She fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides
And tries to pray
She'll be just fine
'Cause now he hears her when she cries
Every day's the same
She fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides
And tries to pray
She'll be just fine
'Cause now I know he hears her when she cries
She'll be just fine
'Cause now I know he hears her when she cries
She'd leave her room if only bruises would heal
A home is no place to hide
Her heart is breaking from the pain that she feels
Every day's the same
She fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides
And tries to pray
She wonders why
Does anyone ever hear her when she cries
Today she's turning sixteen
Everyone singing, but she can't seem to smile
They never get past arms length
How could they act like everything is alright?
Pulling down her long sleeves
To cover all the memories that scars leave
She says, "maybe making me bleed
Will be the answer that could wash the slate clean"
Every day's the same
She fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides
And tries to pray
She wonders why
Does anyone ever hear her when she cries
This is the dark before the dawn
The storm before the peace
Don't be afraid 'cause seasons change
And God is watching over you
He hears you
Every day's the same
She fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides
And tries to pray
She'll be just fine
'Cause now he hears her when she cries
Every day's the same
She fights to find her way
She hurts, she breaks, she hides
And tries to pray
She'll be just fine
'Cause now I know he hears her when she cries
She'll be just fine
'Cause now I know he hears her when she cries
Lyrics submitted by iheartyoubaby
When She Cries Lyrics as written by Gregory Allen Bieck Adam Bradley Smith
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
i love this song! to me, it's about a girl who grows up with a bad childhood and eventually becomes depressed and starts cutting. she won't let anyone get too close to her, because she's afraid they'll hurt her. she finds God and she let's Him into her heart and He forgives her and rids her of all her sins and just surrounds her with His love. it's an amazing song! :D