"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.
Lady, understand me now.
While you are in the world there's
one less angel in heaven,
and your human spine
lies at the center
of systems never ending
But I'm mean,
I got a chest full of crime
I got bad skin, and you shine,
all the time
I, I mean to make you mine
with my ugly and serpentine
heart of a swine
Oh, when it's quiet
Do like the mystified do
All over silent
system on system of you
Love makes its mansions
for the two of us,
but evil lies within
Here flows countless roses
dying at your feet, in sweet disbelief
Honey, please don't worry
I mean you, miss, I bruise your composure
And your human spine
describes an arc to what's gentle and kind
No sense descending
when your system on system of you
parasite , starlight, bred on a vista
Rome had its empire, babe,
and much like the vampire this is undying
so do like the undying do
you make me get down
one less, two less, dreamless, formless
Now we're the only one
While you are in the world there's
one less angel in heaven,
and your human spine
lies at the center
of systems never ending
But I'm mean,
I got a chest full of crime
I got bad skin, and you shine,
all the time
I, I mean to make you mine
with my ugly and serpentine
heart of a swine
Oh, when it's quiet
Do like the mystified do
All over silent
system on system of you
Love makes its mansions
for the two of us,
but evil lies within
Here flows countless roses
dying at your feet, in sweet disbelief
Honey, please don't worry
I mean you, miss, I bruise your composure
And your human spine
describes an arc to what's gentle and kind
No sense descending
when your system on system of you
parasite , starlight, bred on a vista
Rome had its empire, babe,
and much like the vampire this is undying
so do like the undying do
you make me get down
one less, two less, dreamless, formless
Now we're the only one
Lyrics submitted by garrett (THE ZEBRA)
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
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.
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.
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.