"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.
The street is cold, the dawn is grey
My heart says no but my head says stay
My work is finished, or so I've been told
Can't part the three of us, once we got a hold
I forgot the name
I took a shot on the chin
I'm rearranging my game
Tell by the shape I'm in
In line of fire, you know what to say
They gave us no choices, just one shade of grey
My legs keep movin', I don't seem to stray
But I know each step we take, they're one step away
I found the secret, the key to the vault
We walked in darkness, kept hittin' the walls
I took the time, to feel for the door
I found the secret, the key to it all
I got the Nouveauree
And dragged it home to bed
I traded you for me
I took it all and said
I find my own fun,
Sometimes for free
I got to pay it to come lookin' for me
Walkin' on Gucci
Wearin' Yves Saint Laurent
Barely stay on 'cause I'm so God damn gaunt
I found the secret, the key to the vault
We walked in darkness, kept hittin' the walls
I took the time, to feel for the door
I found the secret, the key to it all
My heart says no but my head says stay
My work is finished, or so I've been told
Can't part the three of us, once we got a hold
I forgot the name
I took a shot on the chin
I'm rearranging my game
Tell by the shape I'm in
In line of fire, you know what to say
They gave us no choices, just one shade of grey
My legs keep movin', I don't seem to stray
But I know each step we take, they're one step away
I found the secret, the key to the vault
We walked in darkness, kept hittin' the walls
I took the time, to feel for the door
I found the secret, the key to it all
I got the Nouveauree
And dragged it home to bed
I traded you for me
I took it all and said
I find my own fun,
Sometimes for free
I got to pay it to come lookin' for me
Walkin' on Gucci
Wearin' Yves Saint Laurent
Barely stay on 'cause I'm so God damn gaunt
I found the secret, the key to the vault
We walked in darkness, kept hittin' the walls
I took the time, to feel for the door
I found the secret, the key to it all
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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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
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.
I find it interesting that even though Joe sings this song Steven's back ups still take over! You can here Tyler over Perry...no stopping Tyler's incredible voice, none like it any where! Love that my 16 year old is starting to get into them. I asked why and he told me they rock! ( i knew) and that you had to appreciate what they did for as old as they were! LOL
I don't think "Speedball" would have worked for a title in 1976, hence the title "Combination". It's the same "combination" that killed John Belushi in 1982.<br /> <br /> Thank God the "Toxic Twins", Joe and Steven, made it through those times.<br /> <br /> The "key to it all" was obviously found while on the combination and unfortunently, doesn't exist in reality, lol.<br /> <br /> Rocks was a hell of an album, made at the bands peak, just before the meltdown.<br /> <br /> We'll never see anything like it agin, in my opinion, no way.<br /> <br />
Im 15 and i LOVE them!!! So much! Me and my mom drove 8 hours to Tampa to see them Sat night!
Love this song. My buds and I would drive around listening to this on 8 track. Couldn't understand some of the words- but who cares. It was bad ass! One of my fav's
If you understand the lyrics to this song, then you have figured it out. You have found the key in the dark that unlocks the vault to it all. There is only one correct path for you to now take. Magic Glasses...
Ha, think I finally got this one figured out. It's a personal song to, well, blow, or some such drug. I think it's a cocaine thing though, and he's singing to it. "I traded you for me" is a clear one. Saying he's "so God Damn gaunt" also supports it. Instead of "nouveauree" I think it's slang for "new variety" as in new brand of blow that he might've picked up and dragged home. Not sure on the rest but I'm certain of the aforementioned.
@mikeydhh Yep, it's called 'speedball', the combination of cocaine and heroin. Probably the most dangerous combo.
Joe wrote the song. He says it about heroine, cocaine and him.
Walking on Gucci, wearin' Yves Saint Laurent Barely stay on, 'cause I'm so God damn gaunt
That lyrics relates to the places were be bought his clothes and shoes (which actually were from Chelsea Cobbler in Manhattan) and the fact that he only weighed 129 pounds at the time cuz he was high so much.
Joe wrote the song. He says it about heroine, cocaine and him.
Walking on Gucci, wearin' Yves Saint Laurent Barely stay on, 'cause I'm so God damn gaunt
That lyrics relates to the places were be bought his clothes and shoes (which actually were from Chelsea Cobbler in Manhattan) and the fact that he only weighed 129 pounds at the time cuz he was high so much.
Actually, the tittle is just "combination", isn't it?
The song IS about heroine, cocaine and Joe ("you can't part the THREE of us, once we got a hold"). This is the first song Joe wrote solo for Aerosmith and where he is the lead singer. Combination is about the dangerous combination of having vices like drugs and being able to afford them. At this point the boys were rich. This song has some of the hardest driving rhythms. One of the best off Rocks.
There is a lyric errors... 'I got the Nouveauree...' not 'I got a new Varee...' I even looked it up on another lyric sight just for corroboration.
Yes it is.