"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.
You hit me once, I hit you back
You gave a kick, I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed
You hit me once, I hit you back
You gave a kick, I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed, oh
My black eye casts no shadow
Your red eye sees nothing
Your slaps don't stick, your kicks don't hit
So we remain the same
Love sticks, sweat drips
Break the lock if it don't fit
A kick to the teeth is good for some
A kiss with a fist is better than none
Oh, a kiss with a fist is better than none
I broke your jaw once before
I spilled your blood upon the floor
You broke my leg in return
So sit back and watch the bed burn
Love sticks, sweat drips
Break the lock if it don't fit
A kick in the teeth is good for some
A kiss with a fist is better than none
Oh, kiss with a fist is better than none
You hit me once, I hit you back
You gave a kick, I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed, oh
Oh, you hit me once, I hit you back
You gave a kick, I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed
You gave a kick, I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed
You hit me once, I hit you back
You gave a kick, I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed, oh
My black eye casts no shadow
Your red eye sees nothing
Your slaps don't stick, your kicks don't hit
So we remain the same
Love sticks, sweat drips
Break the lock if it don't fit
A kick to the teeth is good for some
A kiss with a fist is better than none
Oh, a kiss with a fist is better than none
I broke your jaw once before
I spilled your blood upon the floor
You broke my leg in return
So sit back and watch the bed burn
Love sticks, sweat drips
Break the lock if it don't fit
A kick in the teeth is good for some
A kiss with a fist is better than none
Oh, kiss with a fist is better than none
You hit me once, I hit you back
You gave a kick, I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed, oh
Oh, you hit me once, I hit you back
You gave a kick, I gave a slap
You smashed a plate over my head
Then I set fire to our bed
Lyrics submitted by claire16, edited by Reisam, tellemonstar
Kiss With A Fist Lyrics as written by Matthew David Allchin Florence Leontine Mary Welch
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's clearly not about domestic violence - if it was, she wouldn't be hitting back. It's metaphorical for a relationship full of non-physical fights. She's saying fighting is better than having no relationship, or a relationship without fights - fighting is actually a very healthy sign in a relationship.
Out of curiousity, what exactly in this song makes it "clearly not about domestic violence"? Not what she said on myspace, but what in the song makes that so clear? Because I can't find it anywhere. I think that the band was covering their ass with the comment on myspace, and that people here are defending it because they don't want to like a song that's about domestic violence. There isn't a single line in the song that even hints that it is a metaphor.<br /> <br /> I will say that I love this song, and I don't think it's endorsing violence, but that's not to say I don't think it's about physical violence. I have seen relationships where people claim to very much love each other but they are physical and emotional destructive is clear to everyone else. They say things like their relationship is just very "passionate".<br /> <br /> In the end, I could be wrong or I could be right. Those are just my opinions. I just wanted to post because I don't like the fact that some people think that their opinion is the end all, or that differing opinions are "ignorant". Just because the subject may be controversial, doesn't mean it's not the actual subject.
Technically, I agree with you, afbound, that it's not quite so clear that it's not about domestic violence. In fact the only lines in the song that hint to that would be "your slaps don't stick / your kicks don't hit / so we remain the same" which is ambiguous at best. However, taking into account the tone of the song, one (such as myself) might get the impression that it's not to be taken literally, as supported by an interview with the writer.<br /> <br /> My introduction to this song was from the radio, and the DJ announced that he'd spent the last several weeks trying to find a way to have sex with this song, because he loves it so much. That prelude was enough for me see the lyrics as sarcastic or metaphorical.<br /> <br /> afbound, the point of this website is to try to see songs from other people's perspectives, or at least give everyone an equal launchpad to proclaim theirs. I may not agree with what you say (because I think the intended meaning is clear enough given the tone), but I respect your right to say it, and the fact that you did.
Never said my opinion was the end all, or that differing opinions are ignorant. I just think that with what they said, it makes sense that it's metaphorical, and that's how I've always seen it (personally). I just don't like that some may say the song is endorsing physical violence or something, because I don't think it is and some people have implied that.
@missme bit late to this but your first sentence. Its clearly not about domestic because she hits back. I hope you can read this comment 12 years later and see the issue in that response.