"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.
Well, she lives in a fairy tale
Somewhere too far for us to find
Forgotten the taste and smell
Of a world that she's left behind
"It's all about the exposure the, lens," I told her
The angles were all wrong now
She's ripping wings off of butterflies
Keep your feet on the ground
When your head's in the clouds
Well, go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
Go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da
So one day he found her crying
Coiled up on the dirty ground
Her prince finally came to save her
And the rest you can figure out
But it was a trick
And the clock struck twelve
Well, make sure to build your home brick by boring brick
Or the wolf's gonna blow it down
Keep your feet on the ground
When your head's in the clouds
Well, go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
Go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
We'll bury the castle, bury the castle
Whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Well, you built up a world of magic
Because your real life is tragic
Yeah, you built up a world of magic
Well, if it's not real
You can't hold it in your hand
You can't feel it with your heart
And I won't believe it
But if it's true
You can see it with your eyes
Oh, even in the dark
And that's where I want to be, yeah
Go get your shovel (you'll be better)
We'll dig a deep hole (off without me now)
To bury the castle, bury the castle (ooh)
Go get your shovel (you'll be better)
We'll dig a deep hole (off without me now)
To bury the castle, bury the castle (ooh)
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba (ba)
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da
Ba-da-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba
Somewhere too far for us to find
Forgotten the taste and smell
Of a world that she's left behind
"It's all about the exposure the, lens," I told her
The angles were all wrong now
She's ripping wings off of butterflies
Keep your feet on the ground
When your head's in the clouds
Well, go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
Go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da
So one day he found her crying
Coiled up on the dirty ground
Her prince finally came to save her
And the rest you can figure out
But it was a trick
And the clock struck twelve
Well, make sure to build your home brick by boring brick
Or the wolf's gonna blow it down
Keep your feet on the ground
When your head's in the clouds
Well, go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
Go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
We'll bury the castle, bury the castle
Whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Well, you built up a world of magic
Because your real life is tragic
Yeah, you built up a world of magic
Well, if it's not real
You can't hold it in your hand
You can't feel it with your heart
And I won't believe it
But if it's true
You can see it with your eyes
Oh, even in the dark
And that's where I want to be, yeah
Go get your shovel (you'll be better)
We'll dig a deep hole (off without me now)
To bury the castle, bury the castle (ooh)
Go get your shovel (you'll be better)
We'll dig a deep hole (off without me now)
To bury the castle, bury the castle (ooh)
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba (ba)
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba
Ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da
Ba-da-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba
Lyrics submitted by aristuma21, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Brick by Boring Brick Lyrics as written by Joshua Neil Farro Hayley Nichole Williams
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I know this one now. Her castle was a fantasy and her shelter from the real world. She knew some things were off but didn't know what or why. She left the safe confines of the castle for her prince to show her the truth but her faith in him was misplaced and his well intent an illusion as well. Her prince was the wolf. The type the people in the castle would warn her about. Maybe there were ghosts in that castle but they did protect her. Now both castles are down [the fantasy] and she is on her own and seeing reality more clearly. The lesson is to be your own hero. And to not assign motives or positive/negative traits to others where you cannot see them exhibiting those traits with your own eyes.