"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.
Mystery surrounds me, and I wonder where I'm going
There's a cloud above me and it seems to hide the way
I'm going straight ahead, 'cause it's the only way I know
I want to leave the past, and leave just for today
Now then tell me baby, do you need my love?
Tell me baby, are you thinking of me?
Tell me baby, what it is you need?
What kind of satisfaction guaranteed?
Sitting in the gutter with my head wrapped in my hands
I've been drinking all night, and I just can't stand the pain
It took an awful lot of trouble just to make me understand
Now it's clear to me, but will it ever be the same?
Now then tell me baby, do you need my love?
Tell me baby, are you thinking of me?
Tell me baby, what it is you need?
What kind of satisfaction guaranteed?
Now then tell me baby, do you need my love?
Tell me baby, are you thinking of me?
Tell me baby, what it is you need?
What kind of satisfaction guaranteed?
Head upon the highway, just as fast as I could go
I rode through the night, and halfway through the day
I had no direction I didn't even want to know where I was going
The only thing I knew, was that I had to get away
Now then tell me baby, do you need my love?
Tell me baby, are you thinking of me?
Tell me baby, what it is you need?
What kind of satisfaction guaranteed?
Tell me baby, tell me baby, tell me baby, do you need my love?
Now that I'm here, yeah, do you need, do you need my love?
There's a cloud above me and it seems to hide the way
I'm going straight ahead, 'cause it's the only way I know
I want to leave the past, and leave just for today
Now then tell me baby, do you need my love?
Tell me baby, are you thinking of me?
Tell me baby, what it is you need?
What kind of satisfaction guaranteed?
Sitting in the gutter with my head wrapped in my hands
I've been drinking all night, and I just can't stand the pain
It took an awful lot of trouble just to make me understand
Now it's clear to me, but will it ever be the same?
Now then tell me baby, do you need my love?
Tell me baby, are you thinking of me?
Tell me baby, what it is you need?
What kind of satisfaction guaranteed?
Now then tell me baby, do you need my love?
Tell me baby, are you thinking of me?
Tell me baby, what it is you need?
What kind of satisfaction guaranteed?
Head upon the highway, just as fast as I could go
I rode through the night, and halfway through the day
I had no direction I didn't even want to know where I was going
The only thing I knew, was that I had to get away
Now then tell me baby, do you need my love?
Tell me baby, are you thinking of me?
Tell me baby, what it is you need?
What kind of satisfaction guaranteed?
Tell me baby, tell me baby, tell me baby, do you need my love?
Now that I'm here, yeah, do you need, do you need my love?
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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.
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.
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.
I remember this song had such meaning to me from my turbulent youth (clouds above me), and still does. I was here and there and had no direction...but I was going just as fast as I could go. That's like half of the lyrics.
The other topic is about a girl. Not much more to say about that. Of course if your life is like that, you are going to have interesting relationships.
While there is a period in most young mens' youth that could easily identify with these feelings. Well, at least before they were all staying in their parents' basements until 30 and not getting a drivers license or a life... I feel it can, and likely was about the musicians who made it. They often live that turbulent kind of life all of their days. The rest of us just get boring and conventional.
Awesome song in sound and meaning.