"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’ve got this thing in your mind that it’s all for the best
I’ve got this thing in mind that starts from the chest
Breathing forced, reading lines out of touch
Time was a thing that we thought was a thing that we had
I’m getting waist high, I'm half full, starting to flood
I don’t want this thing to overload
If you believe what's said in secret
Says to me when I ask you now
Do you wanna dance tonight?
Do you wanna cross the line?
When i tripped and i fell i landed straight at your feet
From down here the line is looking blurry tonight
Well blurry lines in my eyes that were willing to cross
Well blurry lines make me feel uneasy
Heart wanting sweet talking reasons I’m over the line
Oh lying alone is the worst but it’s all for the best
It could be worse we could both be lying
Even with miles to go I still wouldn’t ever know starting going down by the head
But you’re alive both safe and stable
Let me in and sail away for you
You are the chance tonight
You are across the line
When I tripped and I fell out of line straight at your feet
From down here the line looking blurry tonight
If you believe whats said is secret
Says to me when I ask you now
I’ve got this thing in mind that starts from the chest
Breathing forced, reading lines out of touch
Time was a thing that we thought was a thing that we had
I’m getting waist high, I'm half full, starting to flood
I don’t want this thing to overload
If you believe what's said in secret
Says to me when I ask you now
Do you wanna dance tonight?
Do you wanna cross the line?
When i tripped and i fell i landed straight at your feet
From down here the line is looking blurry tonight
Well blurry lines in my eyes that were willing to cross
Well blurry lines make me feel uneasy
Heart wanting sweet talking reasons I’m over the line
Oh lying alone is the worst but it’s all for the best
It could be worse we could both be lying
Even with miles to go I still wouldn’t ever know starting going down by the head
But you’re alive both safe and stable
Let me in and sail away for you
You are the chance tonight
You are across the line
When I tripped and I fell out of line straight at your feet
From down here the line looking blurry tonight
If you believe whats said is secret
Says to me when I ask you now
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
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."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
I think "Breathing forced, reading lines out of touch" should be "Reading forced, reading lines means I'm out of time."
"I�m getting wasted high on (?) starting to flirt" should be "I'm getting waist high, I'm awful; starting to flirt." [or half-full, not awful]
"I don�t want this thing to overload." should be "I don't want this thing to overflow."
"Well blurry lines make me feel uneasy" should be "Well blurry minds make me feel uneasy"
"Oh lying alone is the worst but it�s all for the best" should be "Oh lying alone; feelings wrong, but it�s all for the best"
"Even with miles to go I still wouldn�t ever know starting going down by the head" should be "Even with miles of road I still wouldn't have a hope; starting going down by the head."
"But you�re alive both safe and stable" should be "But you're a life boat; safe and stable"
But I might just be totally wrong.
Okay, I found better lyrics. Totally nautical. Haha.<br /> <br /> alternativevolume.com/cancion/canterburygloria
You've got this thing in your mind and it's all for the best I've got this thing in mine and it starts from the chest beating Force feeding lines meaning I'm out of time Time was a thing that we thought was a thing that we had I'm getting waist high, I'm half full, starting to flood I don't want this thing to overflow
If you believe what's said in secret Say yes to me when I ask you now
Do you want to dance tonight? Do you want to cross the line? Well I tripped and I fell and landed straight at your feet From down here I'd say the line's looking blurry to none
Well blurry lines in my eyes make me willing to cross But blurry minds make me feel uneasy Heart warming, sweet talking reasons I'm over the line Lying alone feels wrong but it's all for the best It could be worse, we could both be lying Even with miles of rope, i still wouldn't have a hope Iif I started going down by the head
But you're a lifeboat, safe and stable Let me in, a sail away for two
Do you want to dance tonight? Do you want to cross the line? Well I tripped and I fell and landed straight at your feet From down here I'd say the line's looking blurry to none
If you believe what's said in secret Say yes to me when I ask you now
Do you want to dance tonight? Do you want to cross the line? Well I tripped and I fell and landed straight at your feet From down here I'd say the line's looking blurry to none
Do you want to dance tonight? Do you want to cross the line? Well I tripped and I fell and landed straight at your feet From down here I'd say the line's looking blurry to none
first off- i find this song to be absolutely beautiful. the companion video is great as well (the band is yummy). the main thing that i found alluring was the tune itself, the vocalists fluctuations and rhythms, and how catchy the overall sound was. and then i realized how great the lyrics were so i wanted to take the time to share my analyzation... seeing as no one else has
basically this is a song about a boy and girl liking each other, but it's one of those situations where both are unsure about how the other feels about them (who's going to make the first move?!) the footing is uneasy..
bare with me as i am going to jump from part to part
You've got this thing in your mind and it's all for the best (clear headed intentions of liking him) I've got this thing in mine and it starts from the chest beating (more of an internal pull from the heart- love vs. lust?) Force feeding lines meaning I'm out of time (spittin his game out of desperation! obviously there's some obstacle between them- time crunch?) Time was a thing that we thought was a thing that we had (didn't realize that there was going to be a possible hinderance) I'm getting waist high, I'm half full, starting to flood (the pressure is building, being reminded that the opportunity might slip away) I don't want this thing to overflow (doesn't want to lose his chance and for everything to go wrong and out of his control)
If you believe what's said in secret (since they're playing the game of i like you and i think you might like you back, word has probably come across to her that he likes her- this is the secret) Say yes to me when I ask you now (then trust me and let's finally be together since i actually care for you)
Do you want to dance tonight? (do you want to actually make this happen- courtship) Do you want to cross the line? (change the nature of their relationship, do the daring thing) Well I tripped and I fell and landed straight at your feet (fell for you, would now do anything for you) From down here I'd say the line's looking blurry to none (and in his current disposition, he can't tell where she stands- 'line's looking blurry'- hard to tell what she wants)
Well blurry lines in my eyes make me willing to cross (hard to tell, but it's still encouraging so he's going to gather the courage and try to make it happen) But blurry minds make me feel uneasy (but yet her ambivalence is still making me nervous about making moves on her) Heart warming, sweet talking reasons I'm over the line (she is encouraging him to make the moves though, by flirting and sweet talking- all dat cute stuff) Lying alone feels wrong but it's all for the best (now he's thinking that he's the only one that's trying to tell themselves that they're not into the other person- a sort of defense mechanism to keep from getting hurt in case of rejection) It could be worse, we could both be lying (since she's not into him, she doesn't have to lie to herself- because if she were, then that would be a case of a lost opportunity) Even with miles of rope, i still wouldn't have a hope (even with the encouragement it would be useless, she's not into him) Iif I started going down by the head
But you're a lifeboat, safe and stable (you are something that would make me happy, something that would make his life better) Let me in, a sail away for two (let's be together and do this together)
Do you want to dance tonight? - already explained the rest...