"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.
She got down on hands and knees, one ear against the ground,
Holding her breath to hear something, but the dirt made not a sound tonight
Echoes of songs still lurk on distant foreign shores, where we
Danced just to please the gods that only ask for more, so it goes
But still we give ourselves to this
We can't spend our lives waiting to live
On cold nights
In a prayer for dawn
But the daylight
Isn't what she wants
The concrete
Calls my name again
I'm falling
Through the cracks I slip
The postcard says wish you were here
But I'd rather I was there, holding
On to the simple things before they disappear, that's what I meant
But that was then, and this is now
I'll make it up to you somehow
On cold nights
In a prayer for dawn
But the daylight
Isn't what she wants
The concrete
Calls my name again
I'm falling
Through the cracks I slip
Our destination, a feint smile,
Another station, another mile,
Another day gone, I swear that I will
Be there before dawn, so be there I will
She got down on hands and knees, one ear against the ground,
Holding her breath to hear something, anything at all
The dirt whispered, "Child, I'm coming home."
On cold nights
In a prayer for dawn
But the daylight
Isn't what she wants
The concrete
Calls my name again
I'm falling
Through the cracks I slip
Holding her breath to hear something, but the dirt made not a sound tonight
Echoes of songs still lurk on distant foreign shores, where we
Danced just to please the gods that only ask for more, so it goes
But still we give ourselves to this
We can't spend our lives waiting to live
On cold nights
In a prayer for dawn
But the daylight
Isn't what she wants
The concrete
Calls my name again
I'm falling
Through the cracks I slip
The postcard says wish you were here
But I'd rather I was there, holding
On to the simple things before they disappear, that's what I meant
But that was then, and this is now
I'll make it up to you somehow
On cold nights
In a prayer for dawn
But the daylight
Isn't what she wants
The concrete
Calls my name again
I'm falling
Through the cracks I slip
Our destination, a feint smile,
Another station, another mile,
Another day gone, I swear that I will
Be there before dawn, so be there I will
She got down on hands and knees, one ear against the ground,
Holding her breath to hear something, anything at all
The dirt whispered, "Child, I'm coming home."
On cold nights
In a prayer for dawn
But the daylight
Isn't what she wants
The concrete
Calls my name again
I'm falling
Through the cracks I slip
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
I agree with some of the other posters that this song is about the band touring. I know it must be hard to be away from the people they love for so long, but I think they try to balance it as best as possible. It's a struggle to balance/do what you want and what you feel is right/necessary. It almost always presents itself that sacrifices are necessary to get something done and I think they realize that and thats why they still tour and try to get their message out even though it sucks to be away from loved ones. A destination, A fading smile Another station, Another mile Another day gone
And I have something to say about the sellout garbage. Why do some people feel like they have to own music and that if too many other people like the music they like than they start to dislike it. Music is something for people to enjoy. I can understand people not liking music if it just doesn't suit their taste, but to attack another person's "art" so to say is pathetic. I can also understand that some stuff is selling out, when you don't necessarily care about what the music sounds like and what the lyrics say as long as you make a buck off it. This is most definitely not the case. If people believe music has the power to change people, then why is it wrong to try and get your message out? Shouldn't everyone have the privilege to hear such great lyrics? For anyone who appreciates Rise Against lyrics, imagine had they made their previous songs sound absolutely horrendous and you didn't ever have the chance to hear them because you didn't like how it sounded. Get over trying to feel special for liking something not everyone else likes and appreciate what you like.
I found a very fitting interview with Tim McIlrath about the selling out thing.<br /> <br /> How do you get all the elitist punk rockers and anti-corporate rock fans to still support Rise Against, since you’ve been on a major label for the past few albums?<br /> <br /> It was an issue when I was 15-years-old for me. Bad Religion signed to a major label, and I was bummed. It's a natural thing to feel like you have discovered something and it's your little thing to keep in your pocket. When it's out and exposed to the masses, you no longer have ownership of it, although you never really did! But you feel betrayed and lash out at the obvious target, which is the band. I have no ill will towards those people who feel that way about Rise Against. I was that kid. It is a part of growing up, and it doesn't need to be bands that are the only ones who experience this. It can be a restaurant. You discovered it, and it was yours but then it gets popular and now you can't even get a table there. So you're bummed and hate people going there, hate the food, say the menu sucks when it still is really good or even better than it was before. It's a natural part of life. But I put my head on the pillow at night and know I have not compromised anything, so it's fine with me.<br /> <br /> artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,4894898,00.html