"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.
I took this picture in the dark
Spinning in lights till we fell apart
So turn it away, turn it away
You don't know what I've seen
The youth is hollow and so are we
They give it away, they give it away
This is what it feels like
This is disintegration
This is what it feels like
This is isolation
I can't find the light
Inside this empty room, I cannot find myself
I can't find the light
I won't let you down, I won't let you down
I hold on by a single thread
Sweet solitude is so complete in my head, in my head
You watch me dangle there and become just a memory
Like they said, like they said
Like they said I would end up
The youth is marching to tear us down
We built our lives here
We fight their calling
The youth is marching to tear us down
We built our lives here
We fight their calling
Take sides, take sides
Line up and take sides, take sides
(I'll tear you down from the inside)
(I'll tear you down from the inside)
I'm so sick of you calling the shots (I'll tear you down from the inside)
I'm so sick of you calling the shots (I'll tear you down from the inside)
I can't find the light
Inside this empty room, I seem to lose myself
I can't find the light
I won't let you down, I won't let you down
So write this down
I'm not using my lungs anymore
This is the last time
Write it down
I won't be your voice anymore
Spinning in lights till we fell apart
So turn it away, turn it away
You don't know what I've seen
The youth is hollow and so are we
They give it away, they give it away
This is what it feels like
This is disintegration
This is what it feels like
This is isolation
I can't find the light
Inside this empty room, I cannot find myself
I can't find the light
I won't let you down, I won't let you down
I hold on by a single thread
Sweet solitude is so complete in my head, in my head
You watch me dangle there and become just a memory
Like they said, like they said
Like they said I would end up
The youth is marching to tear us down
We built our lives here
We fight their calling
The youth is marching to tear us down
We built our lives here
We fight their calling
Take sides, take sides
Line up and take sides, take sides
(I'll tear you down from the inside)
(I'll tear you down from the inside)
I'm so sick of you calling the shots (I'll tear you down from the inside)
I'm so sick of you calling the shots (I'll tear you down from the inside)
I can't find the light
Inside this empty room, I seem to lose myself
I can't find the light
I won't let you down, I won't let you down
So write this down
I'm not using my lungs anymore
This is the last time
Write it down
I won't be your voice anymore
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
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
I think this song is very dark indeed. I think it is either Spencer speaking against Aaron or God himself about touring as a "Christian band." There was an interview where Spencer said he thought Underoath should change their image of what they were and what they represented. "The youth is hollow and so are we" I think he is saying that the young people who go to see their shows are spiritually or hollow and/or fake, and that the band members themselves are the same way
"Take Sides" I think that is meant to say the band is spiritually divided
"I'm so sick of you calling the shots"- I think that this might be directed toward Aaron Gillespie, saying that Spencer doesn't like that Aaron is giving them a front of being a Christian band... but it could also be toward the Record company for making them keep up that front.
The Last line is the saddest to me: "I'm not using my lungs anymore This is the last time I won't be your voice anymore" I think Spencer is either saying that he won't be with Underoath any longer if Aaron still wants them to be a Christian band, or he is telling God that he won't sing as a Christian anymore, or try to spread the Gospel.