"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.
karamitsuku yami wo kirisaite
moeagaru kodou no you ni
kesenai itami ikusen no kanashimi ga
ima kimi wo kogashiteku
dakiau tabi furueru yubisaki ga yoru wo azamuite
nijimu keshiki tsutawaru toiki dake ga mada
kawareru basho sagashiteru
tenjoutenka todoroku FLOW
futaiten de doku son ROCK ON
shogyoumujou utsusemi no tsuiyo de
I SHOW THE banshou
karamitsuku yami wo kirisaite
moeagaru kodou no you ni
kesenai itami ikusen no kanashimi ga
ima kimi wo kogashite
tsuyu to ochi tsuyu to kienishi yume mo mata yume
kiki wakenai sono karada to karada tada moteamashite
kasumu ishiki fusagaru netsu ni nurenagara
oborete kamawanai kara
kantan aiterasu matataki
hissui no kotowari wo arawasu
uzoumuzou kechirase yo issou
GOT VIBE I WILL SURVIVE
azayaka ni mune wo tsuranuite
kudakechiru sadamei no you ni
hakanai negai ikuoku no kagayaki ga
ima kimi wo utsushi dasu
SHOUT DOWN BASTARD
NOBODY TRY TO KNOW THE TRUTH
THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
BLOW UP BEAT BACK BURN OUT
YOU JUST CAN'T STAB ME
karamitsuku yami wo kirisaite
moeagaru kodou no you ni
kienai itami ikusen no kanashimi ni
ima wa yakarete
kimi dake ni sosogu setsunasa ga
tadoritsuku kodoku no fuchi de
karenai omoi hito hira no hanabira ga
boku wo ima yurashite
saranudani uchi nuru hodo mo natsu no yo no yume
moeagaru kodou no you ni
kesenai itami ikusen no kanashimi ga
ima kimi wo kogashiteku
dakiau tabi furueru yubisaki ga yoru wo azamuite
nijimu keshiki tsutawaru toiki dake ga mada
kawareru basho sagashiteru
tenjoutenka todoroku FLOW
futaiten de doku son ROCK ON
shogyoumujou utsusemi no tsuiyo de
I SHOW THE banshou
karamitsuku yami wo kirisaite
moeagaru kodou no you ni
kesenai itami ikusen no kanashimi ga
ima kimi wo kogashite
tsuyu to ochi tsuyu to kienishi yume mo mata yume
kiki wakenai sono karada to karada tada moteamashite
kasumu ishiki fusagaru netsu ni nurenagara
oborete kamawanai kara
kantan aiterasu matataki
hissui no kotowari wo arawasu
uzoumuzou kechirase yo issou
GOT VIBE I WILL SURVIVE
azayaka ni mune wo tsuranuite
kudakechiru sadamei no you ni
hakanai negai ikuoku no kagayaki ga
ima kimi wo utsushi dasu
SHOUT DOWN BASTARD
NOBODY TRY TO KNOW THE TRUTH
THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
BLOW UP BEAT BACK BURN OUT
YOU JUST CAN'T STAB ME
karamitsuku yami wo kirisaite
moeagaru kodou no you ni
kienai itami ikusen no kanashimi ni
ima wa yakarete
kimi dake ni sosogu setsunasa ga
tadoritsuku kodoku no fuchi de
karenai omoi hito hira no hanabira ga
boku wo ima yurashite
saranudani uchi nuru hodo mo natsu no yo no yume
Lyrics submitted by horrorcunt
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
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
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.