"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.
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
But until then"
They told me I would live forever
If I kept it clean
They said I would be the chosen one
If I took one for the team
Yeah, it's the only way to be
Never think it isn't fair
That's a green-eyed panic climb
To the edge of nowhere
Give it to the chicken
And see if it ticks
Yeah, give it to the kitten
And see if it sits
Then give it to the wonderful
Wonderful me
And I will tell on my return
The way it is
With all the happy boys and girls
Yeah, the whole h-h-happy world
And the love they feel for me
Yeah, the love they feel for me
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
They told me I could run the world
If I kept it quiet
They said I could be the man
If I took it out of sight
In a monkey suit again
Having fun with all your friends
How a casual hour can pull
All this world to pieces
Give it to the bunny
And see if she kicks
Yeah, give it to the puppy
And see if he sticks
Then give it to the wonderful
Wonderful me
I'll let you know when I get back
Just how it is with all the other boys and girls
Yeah, the whole, w-, other world
And the way it stirs inside
And the why it never burns at night
And the way they make the climb
And the why they never pray for time
And the way I show surprise
And the why I never close my eyes
Yeah, just how it is
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead"
But until then"
I should at least feel tired, I think
Before I lay me down to dream
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
But until then"
They told me I would live forever
If I kept it clean
They said I would be the chosen one
If I took one for the team
Yeah, it's the only way to be
Never think it isn't fair
That's a green-eyed panic climb
To the edge of nowhere
Give it to the chicken
And see if it ticks
Yeah, give it to the kitten
And see if it sits
Then give it to the wonderful
Wonderful me
And I will tell on my return
The way it is
With all the happy boys and girls
Yeah, the whole h-h-happy world
And the love they feel for me
Yeah, the love they feel for me
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
They told me I could run the world
If I kept it quiet
They said I could be the man
If I took it out of sight
In a monkey suit again
Having fun with all your friends
How a casual hour can pull
All this world to pieces
Give it to the bunny
And see if she kicks
Yeah, give it to the puppy
And see if he sticks
Then give it to the wonderful
Wonderful me
I'll let you know when I get back
Just how it is with all the other boys and girls
Yeah, the whole, w-, other world
And the way it stirs inside
And the why it never burns at night
And the way they make the climb
And the why they never pray for time
And the way I show surprise
And the why I never close my eyes
Yeah, just how it is
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead" I said
"Sleep when I'm dead, you angels"
"I'll sleep when I'm dead"
But until then"
I should at least feel tired, I think
Before I lay me down to dream
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
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.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I heard the Gerard Way remix of this and WOW! I luv the synthesizer sound or woteva it is. Wot a gr8 remix.