"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.
The blade I swing is black as night
Black as my soulless heart
It bears the burden of many lives
But I don't feel remorse
I lent my sword to anyone
Willing to pay the price
No regrets for what I've done
A mercenary's life
But there I was on battlegrounds
Until I felt the jaws of death cut into my flesh
Defending old and weak
But I did not retreat
Now, here I lie in my own blood
And strangers cry for me
I'm prepared to meet the Gods
I wish they'd let me be
I don't deserve their sympathy
I know who I am
My soul is death and misery
I am an evil man
I rest in my blood, soon I will face the Gods
Strangers cry for me, I wish they'd let me be
Show no sympathy, shed no tears for me
I know who I am, I am an evil man
I know who I am, I am an evil man
I know who I am, I am an evil man
I know who I am, I am an evil man
I know who I am, I am an evil man
Black as my soulless heart
It bears the burden of many lives
But I don't feel remorse
I lent my sword to anyone
Willing to pay the price
No regrets for what I've done
A mercenary's life
But there I was on battlegrounds
Until I felt the jaws of death cut into my flesh
Defending old and weak
But I did not retreat
Now, here I lie in my own blood
And strangers cry for me
I'm prepared to meet the Gods
I wish they'd let me be
I don't deserve their sympathy
I know who I am
My soul is death and misery
I am an evil man
I rest in my blood, soon I will face the Gods
Strangers cry for me, I wish they'd let me be
Show no sympathy, shed no tears for me
I know who I am, I am an evil man
I know who I am, I am an evil man
I know who I am, I am an evil man
I know who I am, I am an evil man
I know who I am, I am an evil man
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
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.
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.
Not much else I can add, you two nailed it on the head. By far this is my favorite of all Amon Amarth songs; the emotion just comes through so clear and fully that this song makes me want to cry.