"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.
A little fox stuck his head out of the den,
and he saw the sun.
There was a bird flying overhead
she sang the fox a song,
and the bird she sang,
"I can see for miles around friend so nothing can hurt you now,
(clap, clap, clap)
use those perfect little ears just listen for a sound
we can help each other out."
(clap, clap, clap)
The rain was coming down,
the fox he had to hide.
A rabbit knocking at his door,
pleading to come inside.
And the fox he said:
"My home is warm and dry, friend so nothing can hurt you now,
(clap, clap, clap)
on these lonely days, you'll sit right by my side,
we can help each other out."
(clap, clap, clap)
Once the clouds were gone they all came out to play,
'till they lost their breath. huh, huh huh, huh huh huh.
Their mothers called them home so they all left
but as they left the forest sang,
"I will be there through the night friend so nothing can hurt you now,
(clap, clap, clap)
and should a nightmare disturb your sleep, I'll be there to calm you down.
(clap, clap, clap)
And if you're ever in need of food friend I'd be happy to feed your mouth.
(clap, clap, clap)
Cause when I call on you, I know that you'll be there,
'cause we help each other out, yeah we help each other out.
and he saw the sun.
There was a bird flying overhead
she sang the fox a song,
and the bird she sang,
"I can see for miles around friend so nothing can hurt you now,
(clap, clap, clap)
use those perfect little ears just listen for a sound
we can help each other out."
(clap, clap, clap)
The rain was coming down,
the fox he had to hide.
A rabbit knocking at his door,
pleading to come inside.
And the fox he said:
"My home is warm and dry, friend so nothing can hurt you now,
(clap, clap, clap)
on these lonely days, you'll sit right by my side,
we can help each other out."
(clap, clap, clap)
Once the clouds were gone they all came out to play,
'till they lost their breath. huh, huh huh, huh huh huh.
Their mothers called them home so they all left
but as they left the forest sang,
"I will be there through the night friend so nothing can hurt you now,
(clap, clap, clap)
and should a nightmare disturb your sleep, I'll be there to calm you down.
(clap, clap, clap)
And if you're ever in need of food friend I'd be happy to feed your mouth.
(clap, clap, clap)
Cause when I call on you, I know that you'll be there,
'cause we help each other out, yeah we help each other out.
Lyrics submitted by Scarlettthefink
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
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.
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.
Amazing song. Nothing else describes this song besides Amazing. Simply put , this is one of the best acoustic songs I've heared in a while.