"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.
I saw the statue of Herman Brood
It had a lump way down in it's throat
That's because it's heart was broke in two
He played piano really fucking good
West Berlin to West Hollywood
Prettier than Brando, he was punker than punk
Slave to rock 'n' roll and a slave to junk
Angels come to comfort you, yeah they do
And here they come
They'll lead you by the hand
They'll take you down the hall
And they will break your fall
He was no saint but he was Dutch
So he could paint, yeah, he had the touch
He felt the angels kiss him on the head
Whispering the name that rhymes with dead
Now the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam
Good enough for John and Yoko, man
Now you got the key to 902
Hey, angels come to comfort you
Here they come, here they come
They'll lead you by the hand
They'll take you down the hall
And they will break your fall
It had a lump way down in it's throat
That's because it's heart was broke in two
He played piano really fucking good
West Berlin to West Hollywood
Prettier than Brando, he was punker than punk
Slave to rock 'n' roll and a slave to junk
Angels come to comfort you, yeah they do
And here they come
They'll lead you by the hand
They'll take you down the hall
And they will break your fall
He was no saint but he was Dutch
So he could paint, yeah, he had the touch
He felt the angels kiss him on the head
Whispering the name that rhymes with dead
Now the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam
Good enough for John and Yoko, man
Now you got the key to 902
Hey, angels come to comfort you
Here they come, here they come
They'll lead you by the hand
They'll take you down the hall
And they will break your fall
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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,
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.
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.
Herman Brood's suicide in a hotel room.