"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.
Yeah
I am not a pattern to be followed
The pill that I'm on
Is a tough one to swallow
I'm not a criminal
Not a role model
Not a born leader
I'm a tough act to follow
I am not the fortunate and the fame
Or the same verse I'm telling you to forfeit the game
I came in the ring like a dog on a chain
And I found out the underbelly is sicker than it seems
And it seems ugly, but it can get worse
'Cause even the blueprint is a gift and a curse
'Cause once you have the theory of how the thing works
Everybody wants the next thing to be just like the first
And I'm not a robot
I'm not a monkey
I will not dance even if the beat's funky
Opposite of lazy, far from a punk y'all
Stop talking, start tryna catch up motherfucker
And all the people say
Aah, aah, aah
Try to catch up motherfucker
Aah, aah, aah
Lauren said money changes situations
Big said it increases the complication
Kane said don't stab, I ain't the one
Chuck said a an Uzi weigh a motherfucking ton
And I'm just a student of the game that they taught me
Rocking every stage and every place that they brought me
I'm awfully underrated
But can be corrected
And so this second I'm gonna save it for the record
I am the opposite of whack
Opposite of weak
Opposite of slack
Standing in the heat
Standing in a crack
Closest to a beat, far from a punk
Y'all oughta stop talking, start tryna catch up motherfucker
And all the people say
Aah, aah, aah
Try to catch up motherfucker
Aah, aah, aah
Oh when they come for me
Come for me
I'll be gone
Oh, when they come for me
Come for me
I'll be gone
Oh, when they come for me
Come for me
I'll be gone
And all the people say
Aah, aah, aah
Try to catch up motherfucker
Aah, aah, aah
And all the people say
Aah, aah, aah
Try to catch up motherfucker
Aah, aah, aah
Aah, aah, aah
Aah, aah, aah
I am not a pattern to be followed
The pill that I'm on
Is a tough one to swallow
I'm not a criminal
Not a role model
Not a born leader
I'm a tough act to follow
I am not the fortunate and the fame
Or the same verse I'm telling you to forfeit the game
I came in the ring like a dog on a chain
And I found out the underbelly is sicker than it seems
And it seems ugly, but it can get worse
'Cause even the blueprint is a gift and a curse
'Cause once you have the theory of how the thing works
Everybody wants the next thing to be just like the first
And I'm not a robot
I'm not a monkey
I will not dance even if the beat's funky
Opposite of lazy, far from a punk y'all
Stop talking, start tryna catch up motherfucker
And all the people say
Aah, aah, aah
Try to catch up motherfucker
Aah, aah, aah
Lauren said money changes situations
Big said it increases the complication
Kane said don't stab, I ain't the one
Chuck said a an Uzi weigh a motherfucking ton
And I'm just a student of the game that they taught me
Rocking every stage and every place that they brought me
I'm awfully underrated
But can be corrected
And so this second I'm gonna save it for the record
I am the opposite of whack
Opposite of weak
Opposite of slack
Standing in the heat
Standing in a crack
Closest to a beat, far from a punk
Y'all oughta stop talking, start tryna catch up motherfucker
And all the people say
Aah, aah, aah
Try to catch up motherfucker
Aah, aah, aah
Oh when they come for me
Come for me
I'll be gone
Oh, when they come for me
Come for me
I'll be gone
Oh, when they come for me
Come for me
I'll be gone
And all the people say
Aah, aah, aah
Try to catch up motherfucker
Aah, aah, aah
And all the people say
Aah, aah, aah
Try to catch up motherfucker
Aah, aah, aah
Aah, aah, aah
Aah, aah, aah
Lyrics submitted by MusicFREAK20, edited by AdamArtz, SarahZB
When They Come for Me Lyrics as written by Chester Charles Bennington Brad Delson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
omg I loveeee this song :) plus the entire album~ it's just so...amazing. even though LP's style has changed and their experimenting with new stuff, I like it and will support them all the way! I can't help but agree with SusieB's meaning of the song. it makes a lot of sense since some LP fans weren't too happy about the new album. also the lyrics on here are pretty much correct, but here's some edits (I bought the CD + DVD package online and of course it came with the lyrics to all the songs lol. but I gotta give props to the user for getting most of the lyrics right :D):
I am not A pattern to be followed The pill that I'm on is a tough one to swallow I'm not a criminial Not a role model Not a born leader, I'm a tough act to follow I am not The fortune and the fame Nor the same person telling you to forfeit the game I came in the ring like a dog on a chain
And I found out the underbelly's sicker than it seems And it seems ugly But it can get worse 'Cause even a blueprint is a gift and a curse 'Cause once you got a theory of how the thing works Everybody wants the next thing to be just like the first And I'm not a robot I'm not a monkey I will not dance even if the beat's funky Opposite of lazy Far from a punk Y'all ought to stop talking Start trying to catch up motherf**ker
And all the people say Oh Trying to catch up mother**ker
Lauryn said money change a situation Big said it increase the complication Kane said don't step I ain't the one Chuck said that UZI weigh a motherf**kin' ton
And I'm just a student of the game that they taught me Rock in every stage, in every place that it brought me I'm awfully underrated But came here to correct it And so it ain't mistakin', Imma state it for the record I am the opposite of wack Opposite of weak Opposite of slack Synonym of heat Synonym of crack Closest to the peak Far from a punk Y'all ought to stop talking Trying to catch up motherf**ker
And all the people say Oh Trying to catch up motherf**ker
Oh When they come for me Come for me I'll be gone
Oh When they come for me Come for me I'll be gone
Oh When they come for me Come for me I'll be gone
And all the people say Oh Trying to catch up motherf**ker
And all the people say Oh Trying to catch up motherf**ker