"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.
It's been a cruel summer
The sun has been hit by the storms
My darling was bewitched by another
Her black magic tricks stole his heart
I saw her screaming as she twirled her hair
So long and black like the storms
She caught my darling's eye and as quickly as the lightning
I muttered a lonesome goodbye
It's been a cruel summer
The kind that makes grown men turn pale
My darling was bewitched by another
I could not compete with black head
I saw her standing as she twirled her hair
So long and black like the storms
She caught my darling's eye and as quickly as the lightning
I muttered a lonesome goodbye
She caught my darling's eye and as quickly as the lightning
I muttered a lonesome goodbye
The sun has been hit by the storms
My darling was bewitched by another
Her black magic tricks stole his heart
I saw her screaming as she twirled her hair
So long and black like the storms
She caught my darling's eye and as quickly as the lightning
I muttered a lonesome goodbye
It's been a cruel summer
The kind that makes grown men turn pale
My darling was bewitched by another
I could not compete with black head
I saw her standing as she twirled her hair
So long and black like the storms
She caught my darling's eye and as quickly as the lightning
I muttered a lonesome goodbye
She caught my darling's eye and as quickly as the lightning
I muttered a lonesome goodbye
Lyrics submitted by lafolle
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
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.
I know this was about the storms in Nashville but omg I just realised... is this song talking about Jack and Alison???? Like maybe Jack and Alison have a thing?? :( I couldn't think who else 'my darling' could be, and the long black hair thing.. I suppose it could just be that he's off to tour or something with her but I have a nasty feeling about this? Maybe part of it is just fiction. One can only hope.
this was my first reaction when i saw a video of her playing it. its got to be about alison. if its not , id be surprised. when jack and alison are on stage its like they are making love with their instruments! i hope its just a stage thing though. karens so lovely.
wow, also just realized another reference besides long dark hair. their band name is "THE Dead weather" .<br /> 'the sun has been hit by storms' --> dead weather on tour?
ooh you might be right!<br />
This is how rumors start. People who love drama and celebrities too much read into things that are just art. Karen has stated that her music has nothing to do with her personal life.
No this is pretty obviously about Alison.
It was just an interpretation, I think anyone with half a brain cell can see I didn't mean that was definitely what it's about, it was just a thought. I'm not trying to start any rumours. Who knows how a relationship works from the inside unless they're in it? I didn't necessarily mean involvement in a romantic way. And it may not be personal. If it was, Karen wouldn't say so publically. She has 2 kids, I'm sure she wouldn't someday want them to find out that she wrote this song about their dad's possible involvement with another woman. Geez.
It's a song about a past love that was smitten by another girl. Just because she is currently married to Jack White does not make it about him. Many people write songs about past loves.
On another note, it is fun when people like VortexOfLanguage add to the mythos of songs though.
Well, with their divorce, it certainly seems possible that it's about Jack
yeah, i don't think this song is about alison specificly, but maybe just losing jack over time. i feel bad for their kids. its not easy when your rockstar parents go through divorces. i think her song Garden tells it all.:(