"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.
I see a silhouette, liquid that moves
Skin like a pearl in the sea
I cannot resist this, her voice in the wind
But is it my eyes are deceived?
Is it you I see?
Lie down in my arms
Trust what you see
Smooth your brow, you will be with me
To find your relief
Gazing at whitecaps, coming so close
Everything's suddenly clear
Numb with the aching, and still I am waiting
The water is pulling me near
Would you welcome me?
Lie down in my arms
Try not to breathe
Quiet love, you are now with me
You need no words to speak
For my mistakes, I am to blame
Never believed that it was all meant to fall
I'd give my life, to have you near once again
Take me away, would you forgive me?
Skin like a pearl in the sea
I cannot resist this, her voice in the wind
But is it my eyes are deceived?
Is it you I see?
Lie down in my arms
Trust what you see
Smooth your brow, you will be with me
To find your relief
Gazing at whitecaps, coming so close
Everything's suddenly clear
Numb with the aching, and still I am waiting
The water is pulling me near
Would you welcome me?
Lie down in my arms
Try not to breathe
Quiet love, you are now with me
You need no words to speak
For my mistakes, I am to blame
Never believed that it was all meant to fall
I'd give my life, to have you near once again
Take me away, would you forgive me?
Lyrics submitted by HystericRomance
White Waters Lyrics as written by Isaac Delahaye Amanda Somerville
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
I love this song. I'm surprised no one has add a comment yet, only me.
I think this song is about a man that is in the beach and sees a siren (trust what you see) and he can't believe it.She wants him (you will be mine)and he wants her too(take me away).And they are finally together.This is my opinion.
The song is great indeed, I wish it could have been a bit longer. Well, I think the song speaks about a man witnessing a siren or someone missed since a very long time that somehow died. I know that it may not be true, but I kind of see this song as a sequel to Sonata Arctica's White Pearl, Black Oceans... in the way that the main character at the end commits suicide due to the extreme grief he carries. As he lies dying from quite a long fall, I see his mind and emotions playing tricks on him, hence Epica's song. This is of course my view of things.
Expanding on the siren theme, the siren beckons the guy into the waters, but maybe looks like a lost loved one. Since she is promising that he can be with her once again, he goes in. But, obviously this is to his demise. Hence, "For my mistake, I am to blame" (The mistake of being seduced by the siren) and "I give my life to have you near once again" (he died because he thought he would be with her again).
On another note, if the water is seen as a symbol for suicide, then Simone's part is easily interpreted as the side of him that wants to seek solace in suicide. The last line follows especially, with the same quotes as above. he knows he is to blame for it, but he just wants to give up life so he can die and hopefully be with her in death. If this interpretation is true, or if anyone else sees it as this way, then the last words are- to me - the most haunting "Will you forgive me?". Could be talking to the one he sacrificed himself for.
"For my mistakes, I am to blame." When Tony sings that, I melt a little. His voice is so rich and full on that line. Such a beautiful song, and what an amazing combination of powerful singers.
And I second the comment before, that this song should be longer. LOVE IT.
I get the feeling that is about a person that the "I" (I say she to make it easier to write) knew long ago, when they were both children, not older than 5-10. and she starts to think about her again "I see a silhoutte": she dosent longer know what the person will look like, will move etc and she doesnt even know how her voice will sound so she only hear her voice in the wind. but she has doubts, is it really this person she once know very well that she sees? or is it something deceiving her?
but they knew eatch other very very well, probably even loved eatch other, not like siblings but still. and suddenly everything seems clear to the "I", and the person she had lost seems very close again. "for my mistakes, I am to blame. never believed, it was all, meant to fall": something happened to the other person that the "I" maybe could have stopped but failed to, probably beacuse she was a child too. but they were very close and still the first person miss the other, "lay down in my arms, trust well what you see": Trust that is me you see. I'm with you again.