"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.
If all you really ask every turn is a little thanks,
Stitch yourself up, while I back down, agitated and anxious.
Waste the entire day, try to come up for air.
For the last time disappear, barely moving.
It's the last time, it's the last time,
It's the last time, it's the last time.
There's no stopping now, your switch back on.
While we won, you turned your back, disabled.
I know that we're due for something to change,
Everyone's gone when you finally look around.
It's the last time, it's the last time,
It's the last time, it's the last time.
It's the last time, it's the last time,
It's the last time, it's the last time.
When I see you down,
When I see you down,
When I see you down,
When I see you down,
No matter how hard I try,
When you're my guiding light,
When I see you down,
When I see you down.
Stitch yourself up, while I back down, agitated and anxious.
Waste the entire day, try to come up for air.
For the last time disappear, barely moving.
It's the last time, it's the last time,
It's the last time, it's the last time.
There's no stopping now, your switch back on.
While we won, you turned your back, disabled.
I know that we're due for something to change,
Everyone's gone when you finally look around.
It's the last time, it's the last time,
It's the last time, it's the last time.
It's the last time, it's the last time,
It's the last time, it's the last time.
When I see you down,
When I see you down,
When I see you down,
When I see you down,
No matter how hard I try,
When you're my guiding light,
When I see you down,
When I see you down.
Lyrics submitted by Scissors333, edited by itchy92
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
A break up after listening to his girl go on a rant one final time. He can't stand her like this and it happens too often, so he finally decides to leave for good.
Lots of corrections on this one...
If all you really ask in return is a little thanks, Suit yourself, though, while I back down, agitated and anxious (not sure about this line) Waste the entire day, try to come up for air, For the last time, disappear, barely moving.
It's the last time, it's the last time, It's the last time, it's the last time.
There's no stopping now, you switch back on While we walk you turned your back, disabled, I know that we're due for something to change Everyone's gone when you finally look around.
It's the last time, it's the last time, It's the last time, it's the last time.
It's the last time, it's the last time, It's the last time, it's the last time.
When I see you down When I see you down, When I see you down, When I see you down, When I'm high, I try... Yeah, I die tonight (not sure about this one) When I see you down, When I see you down.
Probably my favorite song of theirs sonically, but the muddled vocals and unclear lyrics across the album are a real shame.
So this song came on, and for some reason I felt compelled to re-analyze it. So I put on my studio headphones, tweaked the EQ, and cranked it, trying to get it right. A few corrections to my corrections, and I'm more confident (though still not 100%):<br /> <br /> <br /> If all you really ask in return is a little faith,<br /> Sit yourself up, or lie back down, agitated and anxious,<br /> Waste the entire day, try to come up for air,<br /> For the last time, disappear, very moving.<br /> <br /> It's the last time, it's the last time,<br /> It's the last time, it's the last time.<br /> <br /> There's no stopping now, you switch back on,<br /> While we won, you've turned your back, disabled,<br /> I know that we're due for something to change,<br /> Everyone's gone when you finally look around.<br /> <br /> It's the last time, it's the last time,<br /> It's the last time, it's the last time.<br /> <br /> It's the last time, it's the last time,<br /> It's the last time, it's the last time.<br /> <br /> When I see you down,<br /> When I see you down,<br /> When I see you down,<br /> When I see you down,<br /> When I'm high, I try...<br /> Yeah, I die tonight (still not sure about this one)<br /> When I see you down,<br /> When I see you down.<br />