"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.
Dear Dr. Doom
I read your recent letter,
you left so soon
I hope you're feeling better
noble hearts decision
mind gold lies the future
you refer to freedoms,
body , mind , and soul
love's embracing chalice
isn't life fantastic
helping neath the rumors
of the more of old
double from with on you
each mind has its mirror,
wandering in this existence
from the other folds.
Beginning no end,
Alpha nor Omega,
2 miles or more still appears,
2 miles one more still appears
We won't join in sameness,
We are each one different,
We won't join in oneness,
When we're each one whole
We'll be like in feeling
Being of the spirit
Housed in body crystals
ever will be inside us,
All within is beauty,
All will be in beauty,
From our lives unfold
Giving no end
Alpha nor Omega,
2 miles or more still appears,
2 miles one more still appears
Dear Dr. Doom,
read your recent letter
Know you can't make Heaven
In the East Nirvana,
But you can make certain
The ghost is always there
And the always-presence
You have found within you
Is the same in heaven
Fully made aware
Soon as seen as fortune,
Soon as heard as listening,
Soon as sent past talking,
on your own beware
Dear Dr. Doom
I read your recent letter,
you left so soon
I hope you're feeling better
noble hearts decision
mind gold lies the future
you refer to freedoms,
body , mind , and soul
love's embracing chalice
isn't life fantastic
helping neath the rumors
of the more of old
double from with on you
each mind has its mirror,
wandering in this existence
from the other folds.
Beginning no end,
Alpha nor Omega,
2 miles or more still appears,
2 miles one more still appears
We won't join in sameness,
We are each one different,
We won't join in oneness,
When we're each one whole
We'll be like in feeling
Being of the spirit
Housed in body crystals
ever will be inside us,
All within is beauty,
All will be in beauty,
From our lives unfold
Giving no end
Alpha nor Omega,
2 miles or more still appears,
2 miles one more still appears
Dear Dr. Doom,
read your recent letter
Know you can't make Heaven
In the East Nirvana,
But you can make certain
The ghost is always there
And the always-presence
You have found within you
Is the same in heaven
Fully made aware
Soon as seen as fortune,
Soon as heard as listening,
Soon as sent past talking,
on your own beware
Dear Dr. Doom
Lyrics submitted by burningbear
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
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,
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.