"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.
Getting over you.
It turned out to be more complicated than I planned.
Getting over you. This problem's worth facing
If I have my friends.
It's 3a.m.and I’m so lonely.
Even though,
I'm so far from alone.
I just wish I could drink you away
But instead I’m going home.
She says, "boy this bottle's not for you!”
But I’ll take a chance and make a stand.
This letter's for you.
And I know that the pen is mighty
But I’m out of ink so this song is my weapon of choice.
We remember the good days forever and always.
We were so young but not innocent.
We couldn't wait to grow up.
We would live for the radio.
Make up words to the songs we didn’t know.
But we didn’t care.
We couldn’t wait to grow up.
My name will stay on the tip of your tongue.
I will be your favorite mistake. [x2]
We remember the good days forever and always.
We were so young but not innocent.
We couldn't wait to grow up.
We would live for the radio.
Make up words to the songs we didn’t know.
But we didn’t care.
We couldn’t wait to grow up.
My name will stay on the tip of your tongue.
I will be your favorite mistake.
It turned out to be more complicated than I planned.
Getting over you. This problem's worth facing
If I have my friends.
It's 3a.m.and I’m so lonely.
Even though,
I'm so far from alone.
I just wish I could drink you away
But instead I’m going home.
She says, "boy this bottle's not for you!”
But I’ll take a chance and make a stand.
This letter's for you.
And I know that the pen is mighty
But I’m out of ink so this song is my weapon of choice.
We remember the good days forever and always.
We were so young but not innocent.
We couldn't wait to grow up.
We would live for the radio.
Make up words to the songs we didn’t know.
But we didn’t care.
We couldn’t wait to grow up.
My name will stay on the tip of your tongue.
I will be your favorite mistake. [x2]
We remember the good days forever and always.
We were so young but not innocent.
We couldn't wait to grow up.
We would live for the radio.
Make up words to the songs we didn’t know.
But we didn’t care.
We couldn’t wait to grow up.
My name will stay on the tip of your tongue.
I will be your favorite mistake.
Lyrics submitted by .ashley.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 think it's about missing an ex. Maybe they started out as friends and tried to be more but when it didn't work they lost the friendship. It sounds like maybe he blames her a little and is somewhat bitter ("this song is my weapon of choice"). He tells her to remember the good times and maybe he hopes they haunt her ("My name will stay on the tip of your tongue, I will be your favorite mistake").