"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.
When you're naked, in the shower
When you're sleeping for an hour
When you're big, when you're small
Oh, I wish I was a fly on the wall
When you're with her after midnight
When you kiss her in the dim light
When you break, barbie doll
Oh, I wish I was a fly on the wall
Wanna see who you are
Every inch, every scar
From your head to your toes
I would be there
From your bed to your clothes
I'm in the air
When you think you're alone
I'll be down in the hall
I could see it, if I was a fly on the wall
What you do in your room
I could see it all
You undress, I wish I was a fly on the wall, yeah, yeah (Break)
For the drama that you're drinking
And the dark thoughts you are thinking
And the love notes that you scrawl
Oh, I wish I was a fly on the wall
Silently I arrive
You don't know I'm alive
From your head to your toes
I would be there
From your bed to your clothes
I'm in the air
When you think you're alone
I'll be down in the hall
I could see it, if I was a fly on the wall
What you do in your room
I could see it all
You undress, I wish I was a fly on the wall, yeah, yeah
Wish I was a fly on the wall yeah, yeah, yeah
Ever closer, ever nearer
When you're looking in the mirror
I would know who you call
If I was a fly on the wall
Ooo ah ah
From your head to your toes
I would be there
From your bed to your clothes
I'm in the air
When you think you're alone
I'll be down in the hall
I could see it, if I was a fly on the wall
What you do in your room
I could see it all
You undress, I wish I was a fly on the wall, yeah, yeah
Wish I was a fly on the wall yeah, yeah, yeah
From your head to your toes
I would be there
From your bed to your clothes
I'm in the air
What you do on your own
I could see it all
When you think you're alone
I would crawl
When you think you're alone
I'll be down in the hall
I could see it, if I was a fly on the wall
What you do in your room
I could see it all
You undress, I wish I was a fly on the wall, yeah, yeah
When you're sleeping for an hour
When you're big, when you're small
Oh, I wish I was a fly on the wall
When you're with her after midnight
When you kiss her in the dim light
When you break, barbie doll
Oh, I wish I was a fly on the wall
Wanna see who you are
Every inch, every scar
From your head to your toes
I would be there
From your bed to your clothes
I'm in the air
When you think you're alone
I'll be down in the hall
I could see it, if I was a fly on the wall
What you do in your room
I could see it all
You undress, I wish I was a fly on the wall, yeah, yeah (Break)
For the drama that you're drinking
And the dark thoughts you are thinking
And the love notes that you scrawl
Oh, I wish I was a fly on the wall
Silently I arrive
You don't know I'm alive
From your head to your toes
I would be there
From your bed to your clothes
I'm in the air
When you think you're alone
I'll be down in the hall
I could see it, if I was a fly on the wall
What you do in your room
I could see it all
You undress, I wish I was a fly on the wall, yeah, yeah
Wish I was a fly on the wall yeah, yeah, yeah
Ever closer, ever nearer
When you're looking in the mirror
I would know who you call
If I was a fly on the wall
Ooo ah ah
From your head to your toes
I would be there
From your bed to your clothes
I'm in the air
When you think you're alone
I'll be down in the hall
I could see it, if I was a fly on the wall
What you do in your room
I could see it all
You undress, I wish I was a fly on the wall, yeah, yeah
Wish I was a fly on the wall yeah, yeah, yeah
From your head to your toes
I would be there
From your bed to your clothes
I'm in the air
What you do on your own
I could see it all
When you think you're alone
I would crawl
When you think you're alone
I'll be down in the hall
I could see it, if I was a fly on the wall
What you do in your room
I could see it all
You undress, I wish I was a fly on the wall, yeah, yeah
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Plastic Bag
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“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.
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I think this song's about someone who really likes someone else [perhaps someone they barely know] and who they are deeply obsessed with and they want to learn more about them. I think the person that they like probably isn't aware of their existance let alone the fact that they're in love with them and that this person wishes to see more into this persons life. AKA "wish i was a fly on the wall" is just metaphorically speaking for how she wishes to know more about them and their life.
This song describes exactly how I was feeling around a year ago :)
Love this song so much tho <33