"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 all hate your children
They're too fat to feed
You're on medication
Taking pills to sleep
I think I'm doing just fine
Compared to what you've been doing
I won't get vaccinated
Insurance costs too much
You think you're so persuasive
But I'm not giving up
Saving my life
It's not what you're doing
I, I won't justify
The way I live my life
'Cause I'm the one livin' it
Feelin' it, tastin' it
And you're just wasting your time
Trying to throw me a line
When you're the one drowning
I like where I'm at on my back
Floating down in my own riptide
The water is fine
I like to step on cracks
I go against the odds
You think my world is flat
Do I turn you on?
Maybe, yeah I'm wrong
But I like where I'm going
I leave when others stay
I never re-decide
I don't mind if you wait
But I don't waste my time
Crazy is just fine
'Cause I like where I'm going
I, I won't justify
The way I live my life
'Cause I'm the one livin' it
Feelin' it, tastin' it
And you're just wasting your time
Trying to throw me a line
When you're the one drowning
I like where I'm at on my back
Floating down in my own riptide
The water is fine
I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when it wasn't so hard
I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when, I remember when
I, I didn't have to justify
The way I live my life
'Cause I'm the one livin' it
Feelin' it, tastin' it
And you're just wasting your time
Trying to throw me a line
When you're the one drowning
I like where I'm at on my back
Floating down in my own riptide
The water is fine
I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when it wasn't so hard
I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when, I remember when
They're too fat to feed
You're on medication
Taking pills to sleep
I think I'm doing just fine
Compared to what you've been doing
I won't get vaccinated
Insurance costs too much
You think you're so persuasive
But I'm not giving up
Saving my life
It's not what you're doing
I, I won't justify
The way I live my life
'Cause I'm the one livin' it
Feelin' it, tastin' it
And you're just wasting your time
Trying to throw me a line
When you're the one drowning
I like where I'm at on my back
Floating down in my own riptide
The water is fine
I like to step on cracks
I go against the odds
You think my world is flat
Do I turn you on?
Maybe, yeah I'm wrong
But I like where I'm going
I leave when others stay
I never re-decide
I don't mind if you wait
But I don't waste my time
Crazy is just fine
'Cause I like where I'm going
I, I won't justify
The way I live my life
'Cause I'm the one livin' it
Feelin' it, tastin' it
And you're just wasting your time
Trying to throw me a line
When you're the one drowning
I like where I'm at on my back
Floating down in my own riptide
The water is fine
I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when it wasn't so hard
I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when, I remember when
I, I didn't have to justify
The way I live my life
'Cause I'm the one livin' it
Feelin' it, tastin' it
And you're just wasting your time
Trying to throw me a line
When you're the one drowning
I like where I'm at on my back
Floating down in my own riptide
The water is fine
I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when it wasn't so hard
I remember when it used to be easy
I remember when, I remember when
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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."
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.
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.
Whether intentional or not, this song has a clear libertarian message. "I won't justify the way I live my life 'cause I'm the one livin' it feelin' it, tastin' it..." The whole original purpose from the founders of the US was to value individual liberty, the right to live for your own sake, above all else. With all of our intervention into everyone's behavior through dictating what you can or cannot put into your own body to what kind of transportation you can use, we have become a society of busy bodies intent on running everyone the lives of everyone else while we screw up our own. This trend has been building since the early 2oth century but has accelerated greatly in the last 20 years. "I remember when it used to be easy, I remember when it wasn't so hard"
This is a great song!
After really listening to the lyrics of this song I love Sick Puppies even more. Go libertarianism!
This aint about anti obama/bush or any political bullshit, its about someone who is telling someone else how to live their life, when the other has their own problems. Youre the one drowning meaning youre the one to talk. Kinda describes especially the "crazy is just fine" and "I won't justify the way I live my life"
Amen, although you are probably the same piggish arsehold who just peeved me off!
That's supposed to be a fucking E on the word. And it's ASSHOLE. Let's call a spade a spade (aka a sleeze a sleeze)
this song is about when people judge you for who you are. like, why the fuck should i take your advice about looking after myself when you cant do so yourself. I won't justify the way I live my life 'cause I'm the one livin' it feelin' it, tastin' it and you're just wasting your time trying to throw me a line when you're the one drowning I like where I'm at on my back floating down in my own riptide the water is fine
the chorus reflects the theme of the song- why do i need to justify my life to you. Im happy the way im doing it when all you do is talk shit and your wasting your time trying to help me when you cant even help yourself.
i think this is another fantastic composition by the trio. gosh, i wish i could write/ play like they do!
You all hate your children They're too fat to feed You're on medication Taking pills to sleep I think I'm doing just fine Compared to what you've been doing Won't get vaccinated Insurance costs too much You think you're so persuasive But I'm not giving up Saving my life It's not what you're doing
I, I won't justify The way I live my life 'Cause I'm the one livin' it, Feelin' it, tastin' it And you're just wasting your time Trying to throw me a line When you're the one drowning I like where I'm at on my back Floating down in my own riptide The water is fine
I like to step on cracks I go against the odds You think my world is flat Do I turn you on? Maybe, yeah I'm wrong But I like where I'm going I leave when others stay I never re-decide I don't mind if you wait But I don't waste my time Crazy is just fine 'Cause I like where I'm going
I, I won't justify The way I live my life 'Cause I'm the one livin' it, Feelin' it, tastin' it And you're just wasting your time Trying to throw me a line When you're the one drowning I like where I'm at on my back Floating down in my own riptide The water is fine
I remember when it used to be easy I remember when it wasn't so hard I remember when it used to be easy I remember when, I remember when
I, I didn't have to justify The way I live my life 'Cause I'm the one livin' it, Feelin' it, tastin' it And you're just wasting your time Trying to throw me a line When you're the one drowning I like where I'm at on my back Floating down in my own riptide The water is fine
I remember when it used to be easy I remember when it wasn't so hard I remember when it used to be easy I remember when, I remember when
I wouldn't say this song is "anti-Bush" or "anti-Obama." It seems more like it's "anti-superior figure" due to there really being no direct political attacks. I just watched the video and it seems to be a very "GTFI I don't need your shit" message. Very libertarian and very awesome!
Video: youtube.com/watch
"GTFO I don't need your shit"*<br /> <br /> SM needs editing because people like me always have typos. LOL!
early favorite from Tri-Polar. It sounds as if someone is trying to save someone from themselves yet its the other person who should look in the mirror
what do i think this song mean i think its about someone who has always gone against the grain someone who duz stuff his/her own way few lines that help with this is I like to step on cracks<br /> I go against the odds<br /> you think my world is flat<br /> do I turn you on?<br /> and someone feels that they arent living life to the fullest and they are trying to save from this feeling but they are the one who really needs help but if you look at the big picture they might be differnt but the one who is saving them has more problems feel lines for this You all hate your children<br /> they're too fat to feed<br /> you're on medication<br /> taking pills to sleep<br /> I think I'm doing just fine<br /> but in the end its his life that hes living and his (riptide)meaning lifestyle) is just fine for him lines to show this <br /> <br /> 'cause I'm the one livin' it<br /> feelin' it, tastin' it<br /> and you're just wasting your time<br /> (chorus)<br /> I won't justify<br /> the way I live my life<br /> 'cause I'm the one livin' it<br /> feelin' it, tastin' it<br /> and you're just wasting your time<br /> trying to throw me a line<br /> when you're the one drowning<br /> I like where I'm at on my back<br /> floating down in my own riptide<br /> the water is fine<br />
what do i think this song mean i think its about someone who has always gone against the grain someone who duz stuff his/her own way few lines that help with this is I like to step on cracks<br /> I go against the odds<br /> you think my world is flat<br /> do I turn you on?<br /> and someone feels that they arent living life to the fullest and they are trying to save from this feeling but they are the one who really needs help but if you look at the big picture they might be differnt but the one who is saving them has more problems feel lines for this You all hate your children<br /> they're too fat to feed<br /> you're on medication<br /> taking pills to sleep<br /> I think I'm doing just fine<br /> but in the end its his life that hes living and his (riptide)meaning lifestyle) is just fine for him lines to show this <br /> <br /> 'cause I'm the one livin' it<br /> feelin' it, tastin' it<br /> and you're just wasting your time<br /> (chorus)<br /> I won't justify<br /> the way I live my life<br /> 'cause I'm the one livin' it<br /> feelin' it, tastin' it<br /> and you're just wasting your time<br /> trying to throw me a line<br /> when you're the one drowning<br /> I like where I'm at on my back<br /> floating down in my own riptide<br /> the water is fine<br />
Incu: Do you mean that person A is trying to 'help' person B yet it is person A that really needs the help?
This sounds like a case of the pot calling the kettle black. It's easy to call some one screwed up but when you look at yourself, what do you see? The singer knows that he's screwed up, but he's fine with the way he is. He's floating down his own river and he's ok with the waves.
i agree with what you are saying and i can relate to the song on a true basis
best song on the album... lyrical masterpiece
I'm pretty sure this is a anti Obama song.
You all hate your children they're too fat to feed
The first lady trying to blame McDonald's for fat kids.
won't get vaccinated insurance costs too much you think you're so persuasive but I'm not giving up
Obamacare.
trying to throw me a line when you're the one drowning
Obama spending trillions of dollars under the impression that hes helping us out when really the only thing hes doing for us is drowning us in debt.
I won't justify the way I live my life 'cause I'm the one livin' it feelin' it, tastin' it and you're just wasting your time
I like to step on cracks I go against the odds you think my world is flat do I turn you on? Maybe, yeah I'm wrong but I like where I'm going
This is telling obama that I'm going to keep burning oil my gas guzzing clunker of a Mustang and not burn coal instead in your stupid Volt. I'm going to keep eating my mcdonalds because I like it,its my choice and your wasting your time trying to tell me differently.
I like where I'm at on my back floating down in my own riptide the water is fine
I'm doing fine living the way I am.
lol
@MikeSak @MikeSak Not everything is political. You could ( anyone could) listen to any song written and turn it into whatever YOUR thoughts are. So really unless there is a interview where they say the meaning behind the song. Its pretty much gonna mean whatever the person listening is going to associate it with in their head/from what's going on in their personal life.<br /> BTW We were trillions of dollars in debt before Obama started being President. That's not a easy thing to fix. I know I would not want the pressure of trying to fix Bush's giant mess (like the trillions of dollars in debt) oh and btw I personally am not a fan of Obama. <br /> AND I SO HATE HOW SOMETHING AS EASY AS SONG LYRICS HAVE TO BE TURNED INTO POLITICS!!!! <br /> Have a great Holiday :)
@MikeSak this song is awesome though. ;)
@MikeSak it seems to be more about the media if you watch the video.
@MikeSak everything in this song is a worldwide problem with the exception of insurance costing too much. It has nothing to do with US political agenda, especially seeing the band is from Australia.
great song great song great song too fat to feed