"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, if I spell it out, if I yell it out
Will you hear me when I tell you 'bout
What I have to say, 'fore it gets to late?
It's not as easy as I said it'd be
But there's something right about you and me
Something right about you and me
Well, you're the color of a burning book
You're the color of a sideways look from an undercover cop in a comic book
You're the color of a storm in June
You're the color of the moon
You're the color of the night, that's right
Color of a fight, you move me
You're the color of the colored part of the Wizard of Oz movie
We're like Romeo and Juliet
We're like 40 dogs, cigarettes
We're good times that haven't happened yet, but will
And I can tell you where we're gonna be
When the whole world falls to the sea
We'll be living ever after, happily
All the boys taking you for granted
Tell you what they want with their eyes all slanted
I don't like the way they look at you
I don't like the way they talk to
I don't like the way they talk to you
I wouldn't let 'em talk to you like that
Put 'em up high, reach for the ceiling
Tell them that I'ma walk, damn it I'm reelin'
It ain't no crime, it's just dreams we're stealing
Anything to get more of this feeling
You take the high and I'll take the low
We'll get their before you know
We ain't got no time to waste
We got too much life to taste
We're like Romeo and Juliet
And 40 dogs, cigarettes
We're good times that haven't happened yet, but will
And I can tell you where we're gonna be
When the whole world falls to the sea
We'll be living ever after, happily
Sometimes you remind me of a moonbeam
On the ghost of a moonbeam out on the beach down by the coast
Slipping through the nil like
The most beautiful thing I've ever seen
Come out tonight, come out with me, baby
We'll throw the careful into the crazy
Turn the sky black into a sky blue
Turn the close shave into a hoo-hoo
What I say is true, make fire gotta, burn a few
Make fire, gotta burn a few
We can do what we wanna do
We're like Romeo and Juliet
40 dogs, cigarettes
We're good times that haven't happened yet, but will
And I can tell you where we're gonna be
When the whole world falls to the sea
We'll be living ever after, happily
Will you hear me when I tell you 'bout
What I have to say, 'fore it gets to late?
It's not as easy as I said it'd be
But there's something right about you and me
Something right about you and me
Well, you're the color of a burning book
You're the color of a sideways look from an undercover cop in a comic book
You're the color of a storm in June
You're the color of the moon
You're the color of the night, that's right
Color of a fight, you move me
You're the color of the colored part of the Wizard of Oz movie
We're like Romeo and Juliet
We're like 40 dogs, cigarettes
We're good times that haven't happened yet, but will
And I can tell you where we're gonna be
When the whole world falls to the sea
We'll be living ever after, happily
All the boys taking you for granted
Tell you what they want with their eyes all slanted
I don't like the way they look at you
I don't like the way they talk to
I don't like the way they talk to you
I wouldn't let 'em talk to you like that
Put 'em up high, reach for the ceiling
Tell them that I'ma walk, damn it I'm reelin'
It ain't no crime, it's just dreams we're stealing
Anything to get more of this feeling
You take the high and I'll take the low
We'll get their before you know
We ain't got no time to waste
We got too much life to taste
We're like Romeo and Juliet
And 40 dogs, cigarettes
We're good times that haven't happened yet, but will
And I can tell you where we're gonna be
When the whole world falls to the sea
We'll be living ever after, happily
Sometimes you remind me of a moonbeam
On the ghost of a moonbeam out on the beach down by the coast
Slipping through the nil like
The most beautiful thing I've ever seen
Come out tonight, come out with me, baby
We'll throw the careful into the crazy
Turn the sky black into a sky blue
Turn the close shave into a hoo-hoo
What I say is true, make fire gotta, burn a few
Make fire, gotta burn a few
We can do what we wanna do
We're like Romeo and Juliet
40 dogs, cigarettes
We're good times that haven't happened yet, but will
And I can tell you where we're gonna be
When the whole world falls to the sea
We'll be living ever after, happily
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
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.
I love this song so much! I agree w/you Jingy...I think he says fire and not flag, too.
Thanks for the explanation of the 40 Dogs Cigarettes.