"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.
In here my Brixton briefcase (yea)
From across the pond
London's burning (yea)
But the beat goes on
Feel my power (power)
The electric life
Real rude boys (yea)
On the town tonight
We don't need no fighting
All these beautiful birds around
The liquor charge like lightning
As soon as the sun goes down
Turn it on
Hey!
Oh, turn it on
Hey!
Turn it on
Hey!
Oh, turn it on
Hey!
I got a Brixton briefcase (yea)
Ministry of Sound
The walls between us
We gon' tear them down
It's a Brixton briefcase (briefcase)
Is that such a sin?
Blokes get batoned
They get a Chelsea grin
Girl do your dance for me glorious
Smile and sing along
Shake your ass for me, mama
They're playin' your favorite song
Turn it on
Hey!
Oh, turn it on
Hey!
Turn it on
Hey!
Oh, turn it on
Hey!
All along from records
Nothing's solved
Turn it up louder
Tell Old Bill fuck off
All my feelings
All my friends
Had to ride that train
All the way to the ends
All of you and not your neighbor
Pretending to be posh
Baby, the music can save us
Only a wanker was searching for
Get it on
Hey!
Get, get it on
Hey!
Turn it on
Oh, turn it on
Hey!
I got a Brixton briefcase
Feel my power
Got a Brixton briefcase
Feel my power
From across the pond
London's burning (yea)
But the beat goes on
Feel my power (power)
The electric life
Real rude boys (yea)
On the town tonight
We don't need no fighting
All these beautiful birds around
The liquor charge like lightning
As soon as the sun goes down
Turn it on
Hey!
Oh, turn it on
Hey!
Turn it on
Hey!
Oh, turn it on
Hey!
I got a Brixton briefcase (yea)
Ministry of Sound
The walls between us
We gon' tear them down
It's a Brixton briefcase (briefcase)
Is that such a sin?
Blokes get batoned
They get a Chelsea grin
Girl do your dance for me glorious
Smile and sing along
Shake your ass for me, mama
They're playin' your favorite song
Turn it on
Hey!
Oh, turn it on
Hey!
Turn it on
Hey!
Oh, turn it on
Hey!
All along from records
Nothing's solved
Turn it up louder
Tell Old Bill fuck off
All my feelings
All my friends
Had to ride that train
All the way to the ends
All of you and not your neighbor
Pretending to be posh
Baby, the music can save us
Only a wanker was searching for
Get it on
Hey!
Get, get it on
Hey!
Turn it on
Oh, turn it on
Hey!
I got a Brixton briefcase
Feel my power
Got a Brixton briefcase
Feel my power
Lyrics submitted by tiagoferrari
Brixton Briefcase Lyrics as written by Will Kennard Cee Green
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.