"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 once knew a pirate named bob
B-o-b bob was a drunken old slob
B-o-b bob was about as dumb as a rock
But bob made it to the top
[Chorus]
He said you swing from your tree
And I'll swing from mine
You have your lemons
And I'll have my limes
Funny how we all act like monkeys sometimes
You swing from you tree
And I'll swing from mine
He said id rather make love than
I'd rather make millions then to never be bored
I'd rather be happy
Than to have anymore
Yes I'm little tangled in the vine
[Chorus]
[Repeat: x2]
You swing from your tree
And ill swing from mine
We'll all be happy sometime
[Chorus]
You have your whiskey
And ill drink my wine
You save your dollar and ill spend my dime
You swing from your tree
And ill swing from mine
We'll all be happy sometime
We'll all be happy sometime
B-o-b bob was a drunken old slob
B-o-b bob was about as dumb as a rock
But bob made it to the top
[Chorus]
He said you swing from your tree
And I'll swing from mine
You have your lemons
And I'll have my limes
Funny how we all act like monkeys sometimes
You swing from you tree
And I'll swing from mine
He said id rather make love than
I'd rather make millions then to never be bored
I'd rather be happy
Than to have anymore
Yes I'm little tangled in the vine
[Chorus]
[Repeat: x2]
You swing from your tree
And ill swing from mine
We'll all be happy sometime
[Chorus]
You have your whiskey
And ill drink my wine
You save your dollar and ill spend my dime
You swing from your tree
And ill swing from mine
We'll all be happy sometime
We'll all be happy sometime
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Holiday
Bee Gees
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@[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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
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How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
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.
I like this song. great melody, funny text. anyone know what this whole BOB thing is all about? I know the tracks a cover of sorts. from a play?
the phrase Guess I'm A little tangled in a vine is a direct reference to Bob Dylan and his song Tangled up in blue... it's evident through the song that he's talking about him