"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.
Fussin and fightin we back at it again (gain)
I know that it's my fault, you don't understand (no)
I got memories (huh), this is crazy (huh)
You ain't nothin like, the girl I used to know
Good wit mom, good wit pop, cool wit all my friends (friends)
I should try to decide, want to let you in but (no)
That means memories (huh), and it's crazy (huh)
You ain't nothin like, the girl I used to know
Girl I really wanna work this out cause I'm tired of fighting
And I really hope you still want me the way I want you
I said I really wanna work this out but girl I'm trying
It's no excuse, no excuse
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold (2x)
Why can't I, get it right, just can't let it go (go)
I opened up, she let me down, I won't feel that no more(no)
I got memories (uh), this is crazy (huh)
You ain't nothing like, the girl I used to know
I Don't mean to take it out on you baby but I can't help it
Cause my heart is in the same old condition that baby left it
And I, I apologize, for making you cry
Look me in my eyes, and promise you won't do me the same
Girl I really wanna work this out cause I'm tired of fighting
And I really hope you still want me the way I want you
I said I really wanna work this out but girl I'm trying
It's no excuse, no excuse
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold (2x)
Uh, I don't wanna be stuck off in this cold, cold world
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Uh, I don't wanna be stuck off in this cold, cold world
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Girl I really wanna work this out cause I'm tired of fighting
And I really hope you still want me the way I want you
I said I really wanna work this out but girl I'm trying
It's no excuse, no excuse
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold (2x)
I know that it's my fault, you don't understand (no)
I got memories (huh), this is crazy (huh)
You ain't nothin like, the girl I used to know
Good wit mom, good wit pop, cool wit all my friends (friends)
I should try to decide, want to let you in but (no)
That means memories (huh), and it's crazy (huh)
You ain't nothin like, the girl I used to know
Girl I really wanna work this out cause I'm tired of fighting
And I really hope you still want me the way I want you
I said I really wanna work this out but girl I'm trying
It's no excuse, no excuse
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold (2x)
Why can't I, get it right, just can't let it go (go)
I opened up, she let me down, I won't feel that no more(no)
I got memories (uh), this is crazy (huh)
You ain't nothing like, the girl I used to know
I Don't mean to take it out on you baby but I can't help it
Cause my heart is in the same old condition that baby left it
And I, I apologize, for making you cry
Look me in my eyes, and promise you won't do me the same
Girl I really wanna work this out cause I'm tired of fighting
And I really hope you still want me the way I want you
I said I really wanna work this out but girl I'm trying
It's no excuse, no excuse
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold (2x)
Uh, I don't wanna be stuck off in this cold, cold world
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Uh, I don't wanna be stuck off in this cold, cold world
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Don't wanna mess this up, better keep your eye on me girl
Girl I really wanna work this out cause I'm tired of fighting
And I really hope you still want me the way I want you
I said I really wanna work this out but girl I'm trying
It's no excuse, no excuse
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
I got this icebox where my heart used to be
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
No, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold (2x)
Lyrics submitted by Dani3lBr00tality
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
it's even more amazing when you hear them play it LIVE.
I love this!
IN MY OPINION, this song is stupid. they should've done another cover. what a waste of vocals (: