"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.
Hey girl in the strobing light
What your mama never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
Young boy by the traffic light
What your daddy never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
Hold up a second, now I got something on my dirty mind
I start out with good intentions but mess it up like all the time
I try to keep up appearance but always end up way out of line
I need some kind of miracle, 'cause I lost all my faith in science
So I put my faith in me
She said
There just must be more to life than this
He said
Careful, 'cause you might just get your wish
(Everybody in the back singing)
Hey girl in the strobing light
What your mama never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
(Everybody singing)
Young boy by the traffic light
What your daddy never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
Back in suburbia kids get high and make out on the train
Then endless incomprehensible boredom takes a hold again
And in this other dream I'm on top of the world, ahead of the game
Think of reality and it hits me hardcore to the brain
We gotta get away
She said
There just must be more to life than this
He said
Careful, 'cause you might just get your wish
(Everybody in the back singing)
Hey girl in the strobing light
What your mama never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
(Everybody in the front)
Young boy by the traffic light
What your daddy never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
Hey
Bet your mama never told you that
Nah
What your mama never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
Young boy by the traffic light
What your daddy never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
Hold up a second, now I got something on my dirty mind
I start out with good intentions but mess it up like all the time
I try to keep up appearance but always end up way out of line
I need some kind of miracle, 'cause I lost all my faith in science
So I put my faith in me
She said
There just must be more to life than this
He said
Careful, 'cause you might just get your wish
(Everybody in the back singing)
Hey girl in the strobing light
What your mama never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
(Everybody singing)
Young boy by the traffic light
What your daddy never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
Back in suburbia kids get high and make out on the train
Then endless incomprehensible boredom takes a hold again
And in this other dream I'm on top of the world, ahead of the game
Think of reality and it hits me hardcore to the brain
We gotta get away
She said
There just must be more to life than this
He said
Careful, 'cause you might just get your wish
(Everybody in the back singing)
Hey girl in the strobing light
What your mama never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
(Everybody in the front)
Young boy by the traffic light
What your daddy never told ya
Is love hurts when you do it right
You can cry when you get older
Hey
Bet your mama never told you that
Nah
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
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.
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
"She said There just must be more to life than this"
reference to Björk?
hah, good one. i love this song btdubs.