"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.
Becky Johnson bought the farm
Put a needle in her arm
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
And her brother laid her down
In the cold Kentucky ground
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when she and I were friends
Well, Miranda ran away
Took her cat and left LA
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
She was busted, broke and flat
Had to sell that pussy cat
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when he and I were friends
See the brightest ones of all
Early in October fall
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
While the dark ones go to bed
With good whiskey in their head
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Now Billy Joe's back in the tank
You tell Russo, I'll tell Frank
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Did he throw her down a well?
Did she leave him for that swell?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when all of us were friends
When you lay me down to rest
Leave a pistol in my vest
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Do you miss my gentle touch?
Did I hurt you very much?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when you and I were friends
Put a needle in her arm
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
And her brother laid her down
In the cold Kentucky ground
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when she and I were friends
Well, Miranda ran away
Took her cat and left LA
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
She was busted, broke and flat
Had to sell that pussy cat
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when he and I were friends
See the brightest ones of all
Early in October fall
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
While the dark ones go to bed
With good whiskey in their head
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Now Billy Joe's back in the tank
You tell Russo, I'll tell Frank
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Did he throw her down a well?
Did she leave him for that swell?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when all of us were friends
When you lay me down to rest
Leave a pistol in my vest
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Do you miss my gentle touch?
Did I hurt you very much?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when you and I were friends
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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”
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Great and insightful song. the writer speaks of people she knew at one time or another. They all start off being born with great potential and high hopes of the parents (everyone's buying baby clothes), and then somehow ended up not so well-off. one buy good property and they commits suicide, another got into crime, got busted, some ended up drunk, others ditched for someone else etc etc etc. That part about being buried with a 'pistol in my vest', I believe speaks of the reminder of the cruel world that had put the author into the ground. the innocence is missed along the way of getting accustomed to this world, together with the loss of a gentle touch. great song, sadly true for many cases. Just my opinion.