"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.
In a world lit only by fire
A long train of flares
Under piercing stars
I stand watching the steam-liners roll by
The caravan thunders onward
To the distant dream of the city
The caravan carries me onward
On my way at last, on my way at last
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
On a road lit only by fire
Going where I want
Instead of where I should
I peer out at the passing shadows
Carried through the night into the city
Where a young man has
A chance of making good
A chance to break from the past
The caravan thunders onward
Stars winking through the canvas hood
The caravan thunders onward
On my way at last, on my way at last
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
In a world where I feel so small
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
In a world where I feel so small
I can't stop thinking big
(In a world where I feel so small)
(I can't stop thinking big)
A long train of flares
Under piercing stars
I stand watching the steam-liners roll by
The caravan thunders onward
To the distant dream of the city
The caravan carries me onward
On my way at last, on my way at last
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
On a road lit only by fire
Going where I want
Instead of where I should
I peer out at the passing shadows
Carried through the night into the city
Where a young man has
A chance of making good
A chance to break from the past
The caravan thunders onward
Stars winking through the canvas hood
The caravan thunders onward
On my way at last, on my way at last
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
In a world where I feel so small
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
I can't stop thinking big
In a world where I feel so small
I can't stop thinking big
(In a world where I feel so small)
(I can't stop thinking big)
Lyrics submitted by priest_of_syrinx, edited by OneQuickSix, unsaved
Caravan Lyrics as written by Geddy Lee Alex Lifeson
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This is the best they can do now? I'm one of the hugest Rush fans and like all their mood changes but, everything Vapor Trails and after is mediocre and anyone who disagrees is kidding themselves. The live show aren't over but, the music is. There albums used to be different! Moving Pictures and Signals for example. Vapor Trail to now has sounded exactly the same.
It's not that bad. I'd prefer some more variety too, but the music is still good.
This album rocks.
@digitalman The only person "kidding themselves" is you and your small mind and can't appreciate that the band has changed with the times and improved their sound!.You say "I'm one of the hugest Rush fans and like all their mood changes but, everything Vapor Trails and after is mediocre and anyone who disagrees is kidding themselves".And to say everything now sounds the same is absolutely ridiculous ,it's obvious you're not a real fan and that's good, or sad ,cause if you were you'd be at the bottom , us real fans grow with the band not complain that it's not like Moving Pictures a great album, they're just not that kind of band ,and I'm thankful for that,it's just too bad you didn't grow up like they did!