"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.
He was feeling optimistic
His heart was tickin' click tick tick
Synthetic hopes of a different day
Sparks flew across his veins
The stars are shining from a light engine
The DJ is spinning wig, wig, wig
Colourvision with a blurry view
That's life if he just knew
His life becomes worth living
When he is dreaming, while he sleeps
His life becomes worth living
When he is dreaming, while he sleeps
Monday morning the lights are on
Monday morning his life is gone
The world is turning dark again
His fellow workers are alive again
His heart was tickin' click tick tick
Synthetic hopes of a different day
Sparks flew across his veins
The stars are shining from a light engine
The DJ is spinning wig, wig, wig
Colourvision with a blurry view
That's life if he just knew
His life becomes worth living
When he is dreaming, while he sleeps
His life becomes worth living
When he is dreaming, while he sleeps
Monday morning the lights are on
Monday morning his life is gone
The world is turning dark again
His fellow workers are alive again
Lyrics submitted by analysisfailed
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
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.
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.
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/
"He was feeling optimistic " -Speaks for itself "His heart was tickin' click tick tick " -He felt excited? "Synthetic hopes of a different day " -Basically dreaming about a better life "Sparks flew across his veins" -He was having hear palpitations or just felt excited.
"The stars are shining from a light engine" -he's letting his inner light shine. Letting loose his inner creativity. Or he's at a rave. "The DJ is spinning wig, wig, wig" -He's listening to music, feeling energized, or the DJ is just spinning "Colourvision with a blurry view" -Overly hopeful, with no clear vision. Or he's intoxicated. By optimism? "That's life if he just knew" -I'm thinking they just couldn't think of a word to rhyme with view. He's hopeful for a new life I guess.
"His life becomes worth living When he is dreaming, while he sleeps" -In this state of blind optimism, he has found a reason to keep going.
"Monday morning the lights are on Monday morning his life is gone" -As he starts the work week, reality creeps in. He only feels alive when he is able to dream on his own time, and feel like his life is his own. Not somebody else's.
"The world is turning dark again His fellow workers are alive again" -he's basically sectioned out his life. That of the dark and dreary world of monotonous labor, and that of the hopeful color filled weekend. He doesn't want to acknowledge his work life because it's not what he is meant for. His dream is supposed to be his reality.