"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.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today in remembrance of innocence lost. What are you in this day and age, in this society, without your cash? Without your scrilla? I want you to take a second right now and ponder that, while I sing you this song.
So what is it that keeps shorty on the avenue scheming?
Bare foot, broke back with nothing to believe in
It's, the way the diamonds be gleaming
She sees the product of 200 years of opressed dreaming
At 15 her innoncence was stolen with a quickness
But it's an act that makes too many young women victims
Now her mentality is just to stack those chips
For the right price to let you violate her lips
Remembering [....] as a 4 year old
The loving that she never got she's showing him ten-fold
Her devotion to him, it could never be sold
So tonight she'll be out in the cold
See she's chasing them ghosts
The future's looking daunting
We've all been affected by the ghetto haunting
The future's looking daunting
We all live with the presidential haunting
Where cash rules, forgo benevolence
These days it's all about them dead presidents
So even though you got much more than most
You still spend your lifetime chasing them ghosts
Because cash rules, forgo benevolence
These days it's all about them dead presidents
So even though you got much more than most
You still spend your lifetime chasing them ghosts
At 13 he sold his first rock, been hustling ever since
Getting rid of them baggies and destroying the evidence
His conscience, that was a hard one to convince
So Sunday mornings were spent searching for his life's relevance
But Sunday night, it was back to that routine
Back to the street corners, back to them dope fiends
Back to the means of getting the green, pursuing his dreams
But there's more to the story than it would seem
See for this young man, it was more than the wealth
He had a want to be something much bigger than himself
But that want to succeed, would soon turned into greed
That need was fuelled by his hunger
That's why he's chasing ghosts
The future's looking daunting
We've all been affected by the ghetto haunting
The future's looking daunting
We all live with the presidential haunting
Where cash rules, forgo benevolence
These days it's all about them dead presidents
So even though you got much more than most
You still spend your lifetime chasing them ghosts
Because cash rules, forgo benevolence
These days it's all about them dead presidents
So even though you got much more than most
You still spend your lifetime chasing them ghosts
So what is it that keeps shorty on the avenue scheming?
Bare foot, broke back with nothing to believe in
It's, the way the diamonds be gleaming
She sees the product of 200 years of opressed dreaming
At 15 her innoncence was stolen with a quickness
But it's an act that makes too many young women victims
Now her mentality is just to stack those chips
For the right price to let you violate her lips
Remembering [....] as a 4 year old
The loving that she never got she's showing him ten-fold
Her devotion to him, it could never be sold
So tonight she'll be out in the cold
See she's chasing them ghosts
The future's looking daunting
We've all been affected by the ghetto haunting
The future's looking daunting
We all live with the presidential haunting
Where cash rules, forgo benevolence
These days it's all about them dead presidents
So even though you got much more than most
You still spend your lifetime chasing them ghosts
Because cash rules, forgo benevolence
These days it's all about them dead presidents
So even though you got much more than most
You still spend your lifetime chasing them ghosts
At 13 he sold his first rock, been hustling ever since
Getting rid of them baggies and destroying the evidence
His conscience, that was a hard one to convince
So Sunday mornings were spent searching for his life's relevance
But Sunday night, it was back to that routine
Back to the street corners, back to them dope fiends
Back to the means of getting the green, pursuing his dreams
But there's more to the story than it would seem
See for this young man, it was more than the wealth
He had a want to be something much bigger than himself
But that want to succeed, would soon turned into greed
That need was fuelled by his hunger
That's why he's chasing ghosts
The future's looking daunting
We've all been affected by the ghetto haunting
The future's looking daunting
We all live with the presidential haunting
Where cash rules, forgo benevolence
These days it's all about them dead presidents
So even though you got much more than most
You still spend your lifetime chasing them ghosts
Because cash rules, forgo benevolence
These days it's all about them dead presidents
So even though you got much more than most
You still spend your lifetime chasing them ghosts
Lyrics submitted by wolflikeme
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.
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/
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.