"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.
We're always trying for a better place in this crazy race of a life
Work ourselves so hard to the bone, but it never seems quite right
And when you're asked what you do it for, don't turn your head, don't be ashamed
Look 'em right back in the eye, and you tell him you are not afraid.
'Cause anyway you look at it babe, you're doing what you like,
You don't really need an excuse even though it seems you might
I've been down that road before, matter fact, I'll be on that road tonight.
'Cause I can get some sleep
On the day I die.
The road is hard, the road is long, so the story goes.
You drive all day and work all night
Always hoping somebody shows.
I don't care what you people say
I can push on through another night
What a shame it'd be to turn my back
When my dreams are still in sight.
'Cause anyway you look at it, babe, you're doing what you like,
You don't really need an excuse even though it seems you might
I've been down that road before, matter fact, I'll be on that road tonight.
So ready or not, I'm gonna hit that stage with everything I got,
Gonna strum my chords, gonna raise my voice like its the last day of my life
'Cause I can get some sleep on the day I die
On the day I die
And if this life is as good as it gets, it's good enough for me
If this life is as good as it gets, it's good enough for me
If this life is as good as it gets, it's good enough for me
If this life is as good as it gets, it's good enough for me
Good enough for me...
Work ourselves so hard to the bone, but it never seems quite right
And when you're asked what you do it for, don't turn your head, don't be ashamed
Look 'em right back in the eye, and you tell him you are not afraid.
'Cause anyway you look at it babe, you're doing what you like,
You don't really need an excuse even though it seems you might
I've been down that road before, matter fact, I'll be on that road tonight.
'Cause I can get some sleep
On the day I die.
The road is hard, the road is long, so the story goes.
You drive all day and work all night
Always hoping somebody shows.
I don't care what you people say
I can push on through another night
What a shame it'd be to turn my back
When my dreams are still in sight.
'Cause anyway you look at it, babe, you're doing what you like,
You don't really need an excuse even though it seems you might
I've been down that road before, matter fact, I'll be on that road tonight.
So ready or not, I'm gonna hit that stage with everything I got,
Gonna strum my chords, gonna raise my voice like its the last day of my life
'Cause I can get some sleep on the day I die
On the day I die
And if this life is as good as it gets, it's good enough for me
If this life is as good as it gets, it's good enough for me
If this life is as good as it gets, it's good enough for me
If this life is as good as it gets, it's good enough for me
Good enough for me...
Lyrics submitted by FreedomIsDomination
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
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.