"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.
Hey, ohh, let me tell ya no.
Oh Baby.
Trying to decide, trying to decide if I
Really wanna go out tonight
I never used to go out without you
Not sure I remember how to
I'm gonna be late, gonna be late but,
All my girls gonna have to wait cause
I don't know if I like my outfit
I tried everything in my closet
Nothing feels right when I'm not with you
Sick of this dress and these Jimmy Choos
Taking them off cause I feel a fool
Trying to dress up when I'm missing you
Ima step out of this lingerie
Curl up in a ball with something Hanes
In that I lay, with nothing but your t-shirt on
With nothing but your t-shirt on
Hey, gotta be strong gotta be strong but,
I'm really hurting now that your gone
I thought maybe I'd do some shopping
But I couldn't get past the door and
Now I don't know, now I don't know if
I'm ever really gonna let you go and
I couldn't even leave my apartment
I'm stripped down torn up about it
Nothing feels right when I'm not with you
Sick of this dress and these Jimmy Choos
Taking them off cause I feel a fool
Trying to dress up when I'm missing you
Ima step out of this lingerie
Curl up in a ball with something Hanes
In that I lay, with nothing but your t-shirt on
I'm all by myself, with nothing but your t-shirt on
Ohhh, with nothing but your t-shirt on
(Cause I miss you cause I miss you)
With nothing but your t-shirt on (said I miss you baby)
Trying to decide, trying to decide if
I really wanna go out tonight I
Couldn't even leave my apartment
I'm stripped down torn up about it
Nothing feels right when I'm not with you
Sick of this dress and these Jimmy Choos
Taking them off cause I feel a fool
Trying to dress up when I'm missing you
Ima step out of this lingerie
Curl up in a ball with something Hanes
In bed I lay
Hey, hey, nothing feels right when I'm not with you
Sick of this dress and these Jimmy Choos
Taking them off cause I feel a fool
Trying to dress up when I'm missing you (cause I miss you)
Ima step out of this lingerie
Curl up in a ball with something Hanes
In bed I lay (I would be in bed)
With nothing but your t-shirt on
Said I got nothing but your t-shirt on
Hey (cause I want to be close to you)
With nothing but your t-shirt on
I remember when you would like to see me
With nothing but your t-shirt on
Hey (nothing but your t-shirt on)
Let me tell you know (nothing but your t-shirt on)
With nothing but your t-shirt on (fades)
Oh Baby.
Trying to decide, trying to decide if I
Really wanna go out tonight
I never used to go out without you
Not sure I remember how to
I'm gonna be late, gonna be late but,
All my girls gonna have to wait cause
I don't know if I like my outfit
I tried everything in my closet
Nothing feels right when I'm not with you
Sick of this dress and these Jimmy Choos
Taking them off cause I feel a fool
Trying to dress up when I'm missing you
Ima step out of this lingerie
Curl up in a ball with something Hanes
In that I lay, with nothing but your t-shirt on
With nothing but your t-shirt on
Hey, gotta be strong gotta be strong but,
I'm really hurting now that your gone
I thought maybe I'd do some shopping
But I couldn't get past the door and
Now I don't know, now I don't know if
I'm ever really gonna let you go and
I couldn't even leave my apartment
I'm stripped down torn up about it
Nothing feels right when I'm not with you
Sick of this dress and these Jimmy Choos
Taking them off cause I feel a fool
Trying to dress up when I'm missing you
Ima step out of this lingerie
Curl up in a ball with something Hanes
In that I lay, with nothing but your t-shirt on
I'm all by myself, with nothing but your t-shirt on
Ohhh, with nothing but your t-shirt on
(Cause I miss you cause I miss you)
With nothing but your t-shirt on (said I miss you baby)
Trying to decide, trying to decide if
I really wanna go out tonight I
Couldn't even leave my apartment
I'm stripped down torn up about it
Nothing feels right when I'm not with you
Sick of this dress and these Jimmy Choos
Taking them off cause I feel a fool
Trying to dress up when I'm missing you
Ima step out of this lingerie
Curl up in a ball with something Hanes
In bed I lay
Hey, hey, nothing feels right when I'm not with you
Sick of this dress and these Jimmy Choos
Taking them off cause I feel a fool
Trying to dress up when I'm missing you (cause I miss you)
Ima step out of this lingerie
Curl up in a ball with something Hanes
In bed I lay (I would be in bed)
With nothing but your t-shirt on
Said I got nothing but your t-shirt on
Hey (cause I want to be close to you)
With nothing but your t-shirt on
I remember when you would like to see me
With nothing but your t-shirt on
Hey (nothing but your t-shirt on)
Let me tell you know (nothing but your t-shirt on)
With nothing but your t-shirt on (fades)
Lyrics submitted by BasedDiosa
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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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
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 just heard this song for the first time tonight and i almost cried. this song is really sad, but i like it. i think it's just about her trying to move on and nothing feeling right without him around anymore. it's hard to move on.