"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.
As long as blood flows, I stay strong, it's possible
inspired by the music
I've been trapped within this pattern by choice
It has long been my preference to keep, instead of trying to lose it
so as much as I can, I use voice
If I become as powerful as James Earl Jones
Then I will be more mobile and possibly even be able to kill with microphones
Until then, my bones and soul are all that maintain the role
And folding slowly, make it, only my pen pay the toll.
Now is the time
Today is the day that the good lord has made
Which enables me to rejoice in rattling the cage
That holds my inhibitions and fears
Distant yet oh so near
I listen, but don't yet hear the whispers
When ghosts shed tears
So dear apparitions
I give you my solemn vow, now
To earn every bead of sweat on my brow
Until the wet mask that I wear bears my soul
When exhibiting the epitome of mic control
You know the name of the game,
Chasing the fame and wealth
Trying to build a name while still trying to maintain self
Your health is most important
You should never forget
This is supposed to be an outlet
When I'm stressed out, I'm working
I'm never perfect
Jerk the pair while trying to write a masterpiece
A feast for vocal chords
To try and release
I'm always reaching out for something
But I don't know what it is
I'm reaching out for that assurance
Cause me, myself, I know that I write to live.
I'm sick of this shit,
This insufficient method of living is giving me a conniption
Finger too tired to pause
Too sick to quit
The insidious system is rendering it's citizens
Mentally indolent with tricks and senselessness
I've been sent to
Levitate verb, pitch, balance and purpose
To kiss and dismiss villainous words on the surface of earth
With her pursed lips
Hence, giving the worthless
A glimpse at the twinkle in the eyes of the observant
And my momma said the elements that make me are the same ones that break me
Let's switch around these elements and see where they take me
I'm feeling more alive when I'm back by that break beat
Accordingly, I speak out
When I'm full of life my spirit takes me
Through the mic and speaker flowing out
With honesty, probably
Cover insecurities with comedy, probably
Cover up stupidity with comedy, probably
Doing it, just as long as it's calling me
Olly olly oxen free
Strategically placed synonyms, riddles, and speaks
Clothing unfolding
To show those who don't know what flows bring
Moments of personal clarity mixed with gloating
That your hopes and dreams lay broken at my feet
Like toe rings
A spectacle of this magnitude can cause an attitude
To switch hemispheres by a few degrees like latitude
Not a statement for elevate my status, too
I just happen to bear bad news, sad but true
Do I get the finder's fee for finding me in my apartment
Patiently waiting for nothing specific
Just start in my rhyme book
And starting
Departing for punch lines
Moving into stories and traditions
Of real separatory magicians
So if it works out
I could be heralded instead of looked down on
Inferiority complex is something that I frowned on,
Clowned on, and make yourself into a bigger man
Or con yourself as if following the lines drawn in sand
The journey within
Its not as simple to finish
As it is to begin
But hopefully me and my pen will be friends till the end
My buddy, wherever I go he goes
Wherever we go we show everyone that we are both equal
Channeling devices of something higher than each of us
We seem to touch the fingertips of the being that's reaching us
Teaching us that weeping on loose leaf deepens the trust
We need to be sure to hear the creator speaking to us
Microphone (microphone)
Table amplifier (broadcast)
Feelings (building up)
Emotions heighten (let it all last)
The moment between thought and word eternal and instinct
(developing quickly, like the growing of an infant)
Microphone (microphone)
Table amplifier (broadcast)
Feelings (building up)
Emotions heighten (let it all last)
The moment between thought and word eternal and instinct
(developing quickly, like the growing of an infant)
inspired by the music
I've been trapped within this pattern by choice
It has long been my preference to keep, instead of trying to lose it
so as much as I can, I use voice
If I become as powerful as James Earl Jones
Then I will be more mobile and possibly even be able to kill with microphones
Until then, my bones and soul are all that maintain the role
And folding slowly, make it, only my pen pay the toll.
Now is the time
Today is the day that the good lord has made
Which enables me to rejoice in rattling the cage
That holds my inhibitions and fears
Distant yet oh so near
I listen, but don't yet hear the whispers
When ghosts shed tears
So dear apparitions
I give you my solemn vow, now
To earn every bead of sweat on my brow
Until the wet mask that I wear bears my soul
When exhibiting the epitome of mic control
You know the name of the game,
Chasing the fame and wealth
Trying to build a name while still trying to maintain self
Your health is most important
You should never forget
This is supposed to be an outlet
When I'm stressed out, I'm working
I'm never perfect
Jerk the pair while trying to write a masterpiece
A feast for vocal chords
To try and release
I'm always reaching out for something
But I don't know what it is
I'm reaching out for that assurance
Cause me, myself, I know that I write to live.
I'm sick of this shit,
This insufficient method of living is giving me a conniption
Finger too tired to pause
Too sick to quit
The insidious system is rendering it's citizens
Mentally indolent with tricks and senselessness
I've been sent to
Levitate verb, pitch, balance and purpose
To kiss and dismiss villainous words on the surface of earth
With her pursed lips
Hence, giving the worthless
A glimpse at the twinkle in the eyes of the observant
And my momma said the elements that make me are the same ones that break me
Let's switch around these elements and see where they take me
I'm feeling more alive when I'm back by that break beat
Accordingly, I speak out
When I'm full of life my spirit takes me
Through the mic and speaker flowing out
With honesty, probably
Cover insecurities with comedy, probably
Cover up stupidity with comedy, probably
Doing it, just as long as it's calling me
Olly olly oxen free
Strategically placed synonyms, riddles, and speaks
Clothing unfolding
To show those who don't know what flows bring
Moments of personal clarity mixed with gloating
That your hopes and dreams lay broken at my feet
Like toe rings
A spectacle of this magnitude can cause an attitude
To switch hemispheres by a few degrees like latitude
Not a statement for elevate my status, too
I just happen to bear bad news, sad but true
Do I get the finder's fee for finding me in my apartment
Patiently waiting for nothing specific
Just start in my rhyme book
And starting
Departing for punch lines
Moving into stories and traditions
Of real separatory magicians
So if it works out
I could be heralded instead of looked down on
Inferiority complex is something that I frowned on,
Clowned on, and make yourself into a bigger man
Or con yourself as if following the lines drawn in sand
The journey within
Its not as simple to finish
As it is to begin
But hopefully me and my pen will be friends till the end
My buddy, wherever I go he goes
Wherever we go we show everyone that we are both equal
Channeling devices of something higher than each of us
We seem to touch the fingertips of the being that's reaching us
Teaching us that weeping on loose leaf deepens the trust
We need to be sure to hear the creator speaking to us
Microphone (microphone)
Table amplifier (broadcast)
Feelings (building up)
Emotions heighten (let it all last)
The moment between thought and word eternal and instinct
(developing quickly, like the growing of an infant)
Microphone (microphone)
Table amplifier (broadcast)
Feelings (building up)
Emotions heighten (let it all last)
The moment between thought and word eternal and instinct
(developing quickly, like the growing of an infant)
Lyrics submitted by breakdowngasm
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.