"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.
Safe little house, safe little friends
Safe little thoughts to keep you safe
From all those big bad wolves that eat you up
(Aw shit)
Safe in your room, safe as a tomb
Sleep in a coffin made of glass
It takes a big facade to hide the cracks
Can you make this last?
'Cause now I'm not so sure
Are you up to the task?
Sometimes the sickness is the cure
(Sickness is the cure)
You're searching so hard
You've lost yourself
Does it help you to play as you're wasting away
Like a silver screen cliche?
'Cause, after all, we're actors on a stage
Would it help you to wait for the moment to break?
Is it real, or is it fate?
All we are are just chapters on a page
('Cause, after all, we're actors on a stage)
Here in the now, shedding the doubts
They'll be no past or future tense
Regret's a waste of time, and plans will change
(Plans will always change)
Oh, some for the worst, some for the best
You know you can't always get your way
(So selfish!)
So worried about what's next, you lost today
(Oh, you lost today)
Can you make this last?
'Cause now I'm not so sure
Are you up to the task?
Sometimes the sickness is the cure
(Sickness is the cure)
You're searching so hard
You've lost yourself
Does it help you to play as you're wasting away
Like a silver screen cliche?
'Cause, after all, we're actors on a stage
Would it help you to wait for the moment to break?
Is it real, or is it fate?
All we are are just chapters on a page
('Cause, after all, we're actors on a stage)
Can you let yourself?
Can you let yourself?
Will you let yourself?
Will you let yourself let go?
Let go (x2)
Safe little house, safe little friends
Safe little thoughts to keep you safe
Does it help you to play as you're wasting away
Like a silver screen cliche?
'Cause, after all, we're actors on a stage
Would it help you to wait for the moment to break?
Is it real, or is it fate?
All we are are just chapters on a page
Does it help you to play as you faded away
Like a memory?
'Cause all we are just chapters on a page
(Chapters on a page)
And, after all, we're actors on a stage
Safe little thoughts to keep you safe
From all those big bad wolves that eat you up
(Aw shit)
Safe in your room, safe as a tomb
Sleep in a coffin made of glass
It takes a big facade to hide the cracks
Can you make this last?
'Cause now I'm not so sure
Are you up to the task?
Sometimes the sickness is the cure
(Sickness is the cure)
You're searching so hard
You've lost yourself
Does it help you to play as you're wasting away
Like a silver screen cliche?
'Cause, after all, we're actors on a stage
Would it help you to wait for the moment to break?
Is it real, or is it fate?
All we are are just chapters on a page
('Cause, after all, we're actors on a stage)
Here in the now, shedding the doubts
They'll be no past or future tense
Regret's a waste of time, and plans will change
(Plans will always change)
Oh, some for the worst, some for the best
You know you can't always get your way
(So selfish!)
So worried about what's next, you lost today
(Oh, you lost today)
Can you make this last?
'Cause now I'm not so sure
Are you up to the task?
Sometimes the sickness is the cure
(Sickness is the cure)
You're searching so hard
You've lost yourself
Does it help you to play as you're wasting away
Like a silver screen cliche?
'Cause, after all, we're actors on a stage
Would it help you to wait for the moment to break?
Is it real, or is it fate?
All we are are just chapters on a page
('Cause, after all, we're actors on a stage)
Can you let yourself?
Can you let yourself?
Will you let yourself?
Will you let yourself let go?
Let go (x2)
Safe little house, safe little friends
Safe little thoughts to keep you safe
Does it help you to play as you're wasting away
Like a silver screen cliche?
'Cause, after all, we're actors on a stage
Would it help you to wait for the moment to break?
Is it real, or is it fate?
All we are are just chapters on a page
Does it help you to play as you faded away
Like a memory?
'Cause all we are just chapters on a page
(Chapters on a page)
And, after all, we're actors on a stage
Lyrics submitted by feelyourhrtbeat
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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."
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.
I think it's about someone who has locked themselves away from the rest of the world, and kind of living in a fantasy world of their own - a bit like Avoidant Personality Disorder. They have probably had a tough old time in life and have decided to play it safe, and sort of 'stay on track'. I actually love this song, so much.
It's like they are pretending that everything in their life is ok, hence the 'big facade to hide the cracks'. Putting on a front, but not knowing how much longer you can keep it up. It's really sad, it sounds kind of desperate, the way Alex sings it :(
Especially love the lines:
"Sometimes the sickness is the cure"
"You're searching so hard, you've lost yourself"
"It takes a big facade to hide the cracks"
"Regrets a waste of time and plans will change, some for the best, some for the worst, you know you can't always get your way. So worried about what's next, you lost today"