"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.
You ask me, you ask me how I got to know you
Just by speaking on the phone?
Isn't is crazy how the thought of my touch
Wakes you up when you're alone?
Don't you believe everything you hear?
Darling, focus on the prize
Don't you hear me whisper in your ear?
My darling, don't lose sight of my eyes
It's not time to let go, this is not how
It's supposed to end in my mind, my baby
Maybe our intentions were wrong from the start
So answer me, so we don't fall apart
I called 46 times
And you answered on the 47th
I called you 46 times
And you answered on the 47th
You tell me, you tell me, you've never felt so hard
For an obvious candidate
You said you hate your last love
And it's soon enough that you will forget
Don't believe everything you hear
Darling, I've never lied before
Don't you hear me whisper in your ear?
Forget him, you're what I'm waiting for
It's not time to let go, this is not how
It's supposed to end in my mind, my baby
Maybe our intentions were wrong from the start
So answer me, so we don't fall apart
You've even said yourself
You're setting yourself up
You've even said yourself
That everyone would turn
That everyone can turn
And you've even told yourself
That the floodgates would break
So why are you taking so long to answer?
It's not time to let go, this is not how
It's supposed to end in my mind, my baby
Maybe our intentions were wrong from the start
So answer me, so we don't fall apart
So answer me, so we don't fall apart
So answer me, so we don't fall apart
I called 46 times
And you answered on the 47th
I called you 46 times
And you answered on the 47th
Just by speaking on the phone?
Isn't is crazy how the thought of my touch
Wakes you up when you're alone?
Don't you believe everything you hear?
Darling, focus on the prize
Don't you hear me whisper in your ear?
My darling, don't lose sight of my eyes
It's not time to let go, this is not how
It's supposed to end in my mind, my baby
Maybe our intentions were wrong from the start
So answer me, so we don't fall apart
I called 46 times
And you answered on the 47th
I called you 46 times
And you answered on the 47th
You tell me, you tell me, you've never felt so hard
For an obvious candidate
You said you hate your last love
And it's soon enough that you will forget
Don't believe everything you hear
Darling, I've never lied before
Don't you hear me whisper in your ear?
Forget him, you're what I'm waiting for
It's not time to let go, this is not how
It's supposed to end in my mind, my baby
Maybe our intentions were wrong from the start
So answer me, so we don't fall apart
You've even said yourself
You're setting yourself up
You've even said yourself
That everyone would turn
That everyone can turn
And you've even told yourself
That the floodgates would break
So why are you taking so long to answer?
It's not time to let go, this is not how
It's supposed to end in my mind, my baby
Maybe our intentions were wrong from the start
So answer me, so we don't fall apart
So answer me, so we don't fall apart
So answer me, so we don't fall apart
I called 46 times
And you answered on the 47th
I called you 46 times
And you answered on the 47th
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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,
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Great song.