"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.
Climbing up this ladder that I cannot see,
Blinded by this struggle from reality,
I won’t give up and I won’t delay,
I’ve got to keep on pushing for another way
Cannot look back, back far behind,
Restless, I’m so restless and I still can’t find
The key to all my answers to look them in
To know where I’m going, instead of where I’ve been
Live and bleed for my victory
Rise and fall for this destiny
I believe in my legacy
To realize my victory
You can’t keep me down
Nothing will chain me down
You won’t keep me bound
‘Cause I believe in what I’ve found
I am here and I can see
I am strong and I am free
I am here and I can see
That I am strong and I am free
Live and bleed for my victory
Rise and fall for this destiny
I believe in my legacy
To realize my victory
Too much doubt
Too long
Twists my world so out of shape
I can’t relive the time I’ve lost
Life is now and mine to make
Live and bleed for my victory
Rise and fall for this destiny
I believe in my legacy
To realize my victory
Blinded by this struggle from reality,
I won’t give up and I won’t delay,
I’ve got to keep on pushing for another way
Cannot look back, back far behind,
Restless, I’m so restless and I still can’t find
The key to all my answers to look them in
To know where I’m going, instead of where I’ve been
Live and bleed for my victory
Rise and fall for this destiny
I believe in my legacy
To realize my victory
You can’t keep me down
Nothing will chain me down
You won’t keep me bound
‘Cause I believe in what I’ve found
I am here and I can see
I am strong and I am free
I am here and I can see
That I am strong and I am free
Live and bleed for my victory
Rise and fall for this destiny
I believe in my legacy
To realize my victory
Too much doubt
Too long
Twists my world so out of shape
I can’t relive the time I’ve lost
Life is now and mine to make
Live and bleed for my victory
Rise and fall for this destiny
I believe in my legacy
To realize my victory
Lyrics submitted by Asylum306
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.
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.
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.