"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.
Some things we don't talk about
Rather do without
And just hold a smile
Falling in and out of love
Ashamed and proud of
Together all the while
You can never say never while we don't know when
Time and time again
Younger now than we were before
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Picture you're the queen of everything
Far as the eye can see
Under your command
I will be your guardian when all is crumbling
Steady your hand
You can never say never while we don't know when
Time, time and time again
Younger now than we were before
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
We're pulling apart
And coming together again and again
We're growing apart
But we pull it together
Pull it together, together again
Oh, don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Rather do without
And just hold a smile
Falling in and out of love
Ashamed and proud of
Together all the while
You can never say never while we don't know when
Time and time again
Younger now than we were before
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Picture you're the queen of everything
Far as the eye can see
Under your command
I will be your guardian when all is crumbling
Steady your hand
You can never say never while we don't know when
Time, time and time again
Younger now than we were before
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
We're pulling apart
And coming together again and again
We're growing apart
But we pull it together
Pull it together, together again
Oh, don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
Don't let me go, don't let me go, don't let me go
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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”
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
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.
This song is one of those special songs that can be interpreted many different ways according to what the listener is going through in his or her life. I love their new cd and this is, without a doubt, my favorite song from it. A lot of the posts before mine have made sense and I can definitely see where they got their ideas from but I have a different take on this song. I think it's about a guy and a girl who were in a relationship together, rather than being just friends, and things ended between them. Because they are both so scared of getting hurt again, they don't talk about getting back together or how they are still in love with one another. They fall in and out of love with each other as they try to patch up their relationship. The guy believes that they can make it and that they will be together again one day so he tells her to "Never say never." He tries to reassure her and tell her not to be afraid because he loves her and will always be there for her, especially when times are rough. He does all he can to convince her that they belong together but ultimately, it's up to her. His heart is in her hands so he tells her to not let him go. Don't break his heart and make him whole once again.
I am going through something extremely similar to the situation I see when I listen to this song. My girlfriend and I were together for over four years and she was the love of my life. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her and I thought that she wanted all the same things I did. But somewhere along the road, she got scared and ended things between us. My heart has been broken for the past seven months and I want nothing more than to hold her in my arms again. I tell her that if she chose me, she wouldn't need to be afraid because, "I will be your guardian when all is crumbling. I'll steady your hand."