"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.
Falling a thousand feet per second, you still take me by surprise
I just know we can't be over, I can see it in your eyes
Making every kind of silence, takes a lot to realize
It's worse to finish than to start all over and never let it lie
And as long as I can feel you holding on
I won't fall, even if you said I was wrong
I'm not perfect, but I keep trying
'Cause that's what I said I would do from the start
I'm not alive if I'm lonely, so please don't leave
Was it something I said or just my personality?
Making every kind of silence, it takes a lot to realize
It's worse to finish than to start all over and never let it lie
And as long as I can feel you holding on
I won't fall, even if you said I was wrong
I know that I'm not perfect, but I keep trying
'Cause that's what I said I would do from the start
I'm not alive if I'm lonely, so please don't leave
Was it something I said or just my personality?
When you're caught in a lie and you've got nothing to hide
When you've got nowhere to run and you've got nothing inside
It tears right through me, you thought that you knew me
You thought that you knew
I'm not perfect, but I keep trying
'Cause that's what I said I would do from the start
I'm not alive if I'm lonely, so please don't leave
Was it something I said or just my personality?
I'm not perfect, but I keep trying
'Cause that's what I said I would do from the start
I'm not alive if I'm lonely, so please don't leave
Was it something I said or just my, just myself
Just myself, myself, just myself
I'm not perfect, but I keep trying
I just know we can't be over, I can see it in your eyes
Making every kind of silence, takes a lot to realize
It's worse to finish than to start all over and never let it lie
And as long as I can feel you holding on
I won't fall, even if you said I was wrong
I'm not perfect, but I keep trying
'Cause that's what I said I would do from the start
I'm not alive if I'm lonely, so please don't leave
Was it something I said or just my personality?
Making every kind of silence, it takes a lot to realize
It's worse to finish than to start all over and never let it lie
And as long as I can feel you holding on
I won't fall, even if you said I was wrong
I know that I'm not perfect, but I keep trying
'Cause that's what I said I would do from the start
I'm not alive if I'm lonely, so please don't leave
Was it something I said or just my personality?
When you're caught in a lie and you've got nothing to hide
When you've got nowhere to run and you've got nothing inside
It tears right through me, you thought that you knew me
You thought that you knew
I'm not perfect, but I keep trying
'Cause that's what I said I would do from the start
I'm not alive if I'm lonely, so please don't leave
Was it something I said or just my personality?
I'm not perfect, but I keep trying
'Cause that's what I said I would do from the start
I'm not alive if I'm lonely, so please don't leave
Was it something I said or just my, just myself
Just myself, myself, just myself
I'm not perfect, but I keep trying
Lyrics submitted by someowlsgo
Perfect Lyrics as written by David Robert Madison Genn David Jonathan Bendeth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
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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.
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.
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,
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.
I am surprised that nobody has put up a meaning yet. This song has had more of an effect on me than any other song ever has, so I am going to put up my take on it for everyone.
The first stanza is saying that the relationship between two people has been quickly going downhill ("Falling a thousand feet per second"), but when she finally breaks up with him, it still takes him by surprise because he never thought it would happen. "I just know we can't be over, I can see it in your eyes" is saying that he can tell that she doesn't really want it to end, but maybe an outside circumstance has made it impossible for her to have a relationship. "Making every kind of silence, Takes a lot to realize" is saying that the communication between the two is also gone, and it's tough for him to adjust to because for a long time, they have been in constant communication. "Its worse to finish than to start all over, And never let it lie" is saying that he would rather start all over from the beginning than to completely end everything that they had between them.
"And as long as I can feel you holding on, I wont fall, Even if you said I was wrong" is saying that if knows that she still cares about him, he will feel better and not fall into sadness. Even if she tells him that it was his fault that they broke up, he would still feel better if he knew that she still cared.
"I'm not perfect, But I keep trying, Cause that's what I said I would do from the start" is saying that he admits that he is not perfect, but he will continue to try to be the perfect man for her because he promised that he do his best to be the best man for her at the beginning of their relationship. "I'm not alive if I'm lonely, So please don't leave" is saying that she was a part of him. Without her, he feels empty and hollow. "Was it something I said or just my personality?" is pretty easy to understand. He wants to know what he did wrong. Maybe he said something to offend her, or maybe she just moved on because he just wasn't the kind of person that she wanted.
"When you're caught in a lie, And you've got nothing to hide, When you've got nowhere to run, And you've got nothing inside, It tears right through me " is saying that he is fooling himself. He is hoping with all his heart that she comes back to him, but he knows that it probably won't happen. He has laid out all his cards to her and now everything is left up to her. He doesn't know what to do now. He used to always go to her because she was his refuge from all his problems, but now, she is the problem. The last bit is again referring to the hollowness that he is feeling because when she left, he lost a part of himself. All this confusion and sadness is really hurting him. It's tearing him apart.
"You thought that you knew me, You thought that you knew" is a little more difficult. I think that it is saying that she thought that she knew him forwards and backwards, but she really didn't. She didn't actually understand how much he cares for her. She was able to give up everything they had, but he isn't willing to let it go because he cares more for her than she knows.
I hope this is close! I may have messed up in a few parts...
This is an amazing song! I think my favorite lyric in the song is "Falling a thousand feet per second You still take me by surprise" Defiantly one of their best songs.
"Perfect" is a song written about Jacob's life. Whether it is about a break up or just losing a close friend this song fits perfect for both of them.
"Falling a thousand feet per second You still take me by surprise" - That just means that a relationship; friendship or relationship has gone quickly down hill. It took him by surprise, he never saw the end coming.
This whole song is about his life like I said before. It talks about losing some one very close because of his mistakes that he has made.
"I know that I'm not perfect, But I keep trying"- This just means that he knows he isn't perfect, but he is trying his best to be as perfect as he can. Nobody is perfect but he is trying his best and he wants that person to know that he is trying his hardest to be perfect.
"When you've got nowhere to run And you've got nothing inside"- It means that he/she who ever that he is referring to was the person he always went to.But now that they are gone he has no where to run and he's feeling lost, and emotionless.
I can easily base this song on a friendship i used to have. I made a few stupid mistakes but she left me. She was the person i always ran to when i needed to talk tbut instead she just left me feeling nothing inside. its like i almost went into shock before i could really truly feel the pain
amazing song :)
I LOVE THIS SONG! So amazing, Hedley I love your slow songs!♥
I LOVE this song. My best friend, who lives in canada, sent me this cd and I absolutely ADORE it. This song is so true and just simply amazing. I guess I don't know the technical meaning or what not, but it just kinda clicks when you listen to it.. Love, love, love it!!
i cant believe only 4 people commented on this song, anyways this has to be my favourtie hedley song ever, i mean this song is a song that i will never take off my ipod it is so amazing.
Hedley is nominated for 5 MMVAs for this song ! :) June 20, don't miss it !
someone posted the lyrics online and I think they look really good, so I'm downloading the CD now :)
This is my favourite song in the world!!! : ) I like the lines "When you're caught in a lie And you've got nothing to hide When you've got nowhere to run And you've got nothing inside" <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3