"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.
And what a fucking waste of a day
We just lay around and waste away
Because when that sun goes down it's bottoms up
We try to reach the bottom of the endless cup
Everybody's getting older, but no one's growing up
As the weather's getting colder, the room starts heating up
Kev's hair just keeps falling out and Chris just keeps getting fatter
But from where I sit now, on this rickety stool,
None of that shit really matters because
This is our Versailles
Palace on the swamp
Listen to me for a nominal fee you can have anything you want
What matters the most is the backdrop ghost circling your floating corpse at the end of the haunt
Never forming pleasantry
I'm so drunk I can't feel a thing
Pledge your allegiance to the fucking swamp king
Drunk as hell
Dumb as all get out
So pucker up those pretty lips of yours and
Kiss my ass and shut your mouth
Sometimes a knife right through your heart is exactly what you need
Sometimes the things that you're ashamed of make you who you're supposed to be
Listen to me for a nominal fee you can have anything you want
We'll remain here
We'll remain here forever and always
What matters the most is the backdrop ghost circling your floating corpse at the end of the haunt
We'll remain here
We'll remain here forever (always)
Like a million other soldiers on a thousand other battlefields we wait
Wait for the dawn
Like a million other soldiers yes we wait
This is our Versailles
Palace on the swamp
This is our Versailles
We just lay around and waste away
Because when that sun goes down it's bottoms up
We try to reach the bottom of the endless cup
Everybody's getting older, but no one's growing up
As the weather's getting colder, the room starts heating up
Kev's hair just keeps falling out and Chris just keeps getting fatter
But from where I sit now, on this rickety stool,
None of that shit really matters because
This is our Versailles
Palace on the swamp
Listen to me for a nominal fee you can have anything you want
What matters the most is the backdrop ghost circling your floating corpse at the end of the haunt
Never forming pleasantry
I'm so drunk I can't feel a thing
Pledge your allegiance to the fucking swamp king
Drunk as hell
Dumb as all get out
So pucker up those pretty lips of yours and
Kiss my ass and shut your mouth
Sometimes a knife right through your heart is exactly what you need
Sometimes the things that you're ashamed of make you who you're supposed to be
Listen to me for a nominal fee you can have anything you want
We'll remain here
We'll remain here forever and always
What matters the most is the backdrop ghost circling your floating corpse at the end of the haunt
We'll remain here
We'll remain here forever (always)
Like a million other soldiers on a thousand other battlefields we wait
Wait for the dawn
Like a million other soldiers yes we wait
This is our Versailles
Palace on the swamp
This is our Versailles
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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."
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/
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.
I agree, much more simple to interpret than Fortress and Kezia.