"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.
If you wanna know something, I’ll tell you something true
I could never love another, not the way I love you
Baby, If you want a husband, that’s something I can do
Cause I could never fuck another, not the way I fuck you
Is it right, Is it wrong, me making up this song
I just sit around all day thinking about that thong
We could start a family, give money to charity
Even when you glare at me, I know you wanna marry me
It’s getting hard to keep track, on the floor, on your back
You think you’re picking up the slack, the truth is that I think you lack
Look at me, I’m alone, In my bed, On the phone
Staying up late every night, trying so hard to be polite
It’s pathetic I know, I watched you come, I’ll watch you go
I don’t believe in a god, you say you do, so you’re a fraud
I know it’s hard to understand, you’re the girl, I’m the man
I’m the one who’s got the gun, you’re the one who makes me run
It’s kinda hard to be strong, when everything I do is wrong
Maybe you’re just too stupid, maybe you got hit by cupid
But that’s hard for me to see, the way you act so unfriendly
I guess I think that you’re insane, I’ll let you go, blow out the flame
If you wanna know something, I’ll tell you something true
I could never love another, not the way I love you
Baby, If you want a husband, that’s something I can do
Cause I could never fuck another, not the way I fuck you
The other day I saw your name, on the medicine that you gave me
It was weird, I felt weak, In my stomach, by the sink
I never knew I cared so much, yes I did cause you’re my crutch
And I’m yours, but I knew that, I can’t believe I lost my hat
At the club, ran into you, you were with your friends too
Went and ditched the rubber I had, didn’t want to make you mad
But then you went and disappeared, and I started to feel weird
Looked around for you all night, got into a couple fights
Finally I called you up, you said that you wanted to fuck
Got into a cab and came, back to my place, just the same
As we’d done a thousand times, a thousand shots, a thousand limes
Drew a line in the sand, now it’s gone, what’s the plan
You said you took 10 steps back, I felt like I was on crack
But that’s just the way it goes, better put back on your clothes
On second thought let’s take them off, slide back in and never stop
I’ll lay down, you get on top, you know my broken bed’s so soft
If you wanna know something, I’ll tell you something true
I could never love another, not the way I love you
Baby, If you want a husband, that’s something I can do
Cause I could never fuck another, not the way I fuck you
Now this is where I wrap things up, acting like I don’t give a fuck
Gotta say I don’t love you, even though you know I do
It’s just that we fight all the time; too many times we crossed the line
I know you think that I’m to blame; I know you think that I’m insane
But if I am, then what are you? How can what you said be true?
On second thought, wait I forgot, I’m sure that it’s probably not.
How can I believe in you, when I know you’re a liar too
All I ever wanted was for you to be my Mrs. Claus
Growing old and gray with me, death do us part, respectfully
But I guess that it was all a dream, and I guess we never meant a thing
You were always there for me, but you never cared for me
So I guess I never cared for you, and somehow now I think it’s true
Thinking back over the time, we spent together, yours and mine
What a waste, what a disgrace. It’s funny, I’m glad it took place.
There was something real. There was something right. I think about you every night
I don’t know how I’ll live my life. Guess I love you more when you’re out of sight
If you wanna know something, I’ll tell you something true
I could never love another, not the way I love you
Baby, If you want a husband, that’s something I can do
Cause I could never fuck another, not the way I fuck you.
I could never love another, not the way I love you
Baby, If you want a husband, that’s something I can do
Cause I could never fuck another, not the way I fuck you
Is it right, Is it wrong, me making up this song
I just sit around all day thinking about that thong
We could start a family, give money to charity
Even when you glare at me, I know you wanna marry me
It’s getting hard to keep track, on the floor, on your back
You think you’re picking up the slack, the truth is that I think you lack
Look at me, I’m alone, In my bed, On the phone
Staying up late every night, trying so hard to be polite
It’s pathetic I know, I watched you come, I’ll watch you go
I don’t believe in a god, you say you do, so you’re a fraud
I know it’s hard to understand, you’re the girl, I’m the man
I’m the one who’s got the gun, you’re the one who makes me run
It’s kinda hard to be strong, when everything I do is wrong
Maybe you’re just too stupid, maybe you got hit by cupid
But that’s hard for me to see, the way you act so unfriendly
I guess I think that you’re insane, I’ll let you go, blow out the flame
If you wanna know something, I’ll tell you something true
I could never love another, not the way I love you
Baby, If you want a husband, that’s something I can do
Cause I could never fuck another, not the way I fuck you
The other day I saw your name, on the medicine that you gave me
It was weird, I felt weak, In my stomach, by the sink
I never knew I cared so much, yes I did cause you’re my crutch
And I’m yours, but I knew that, I can’t believe I lost my hat
At the club, ran into you, you were with your friends too
Went and ditched the rubber I had, didn’t want to make you mad
But then you went and disappeared, and I started to feel weird
Looked around for you all night, got into a couple fights
Finally I called you up, you said that you wanted to fuck
Got into a cab and came, back to my place, just the same
As we’d done a thousand times, a thousand shots, a thousand limes
Drew a line in the sand, now it’s gone, what’s the plan
You said you took 10 steps back, I felt like I was on crack
But that’s just the way it goes, better put back on your clothes
On second thought let’s take them off, slide back in and never stop
I’ll lay down, you get on top, you know my broken bed’s so soft
If you wanna know something, I’ll tell you something true
I could never love another, not the way I love you
Baby, If you want a husband, that’s something I can do
Cause I could never fuck another, not the way I fuck you
Now this is where I wrap things up, acting like I don’t give a fuck
Gotta say I don’t love you, even though you know I do
It’s just that we fight all the time; too many times we crossed the line
I know you think that I’m to blame; I know you think that I’m insane
But if I am, then what are you? How can what you said be true?
On second thought, wait I forgot, I’m sure that it’s probably not.
How can I believe in you, when I know you’re a liar too
All I ever wanted was for you to be my Mrs. Claus
Growing old and gray with me, death do us part, respectfully
But I guess that it was all a dream, and I guess we never meant a thing
You were always there for me, but you never cared for me
So I guess I never cared for you, and somehow now I think it’s true
Thinking back over the time, we spent together, yours and mine
What a waste, what a disgrace. It’s funny, I’m glad it took place.
There was something real. There was something right. I think about you every night
I don’t know how I’ll live my life. Guess I love you more when you’re out of sight
If you wanna know something, I’ll tell you something true
I could never love another, not the way I love you
Baby, If you want a husband, that’s something I can do
Cause I could never fuck another, not the way I fuck you.
Lyrics submitted by pinkfloyd4241
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
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.