"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.
Taking over this town, they should worry
But these problems aside, I think I taught you well
That we won't run, and we won't run, and we won't run
And in the winter night sky, ships are sailing
Looking down on these bright blue city lights
And they won't wait, and they won't wait, and they won't wait
We're here to stay, we're here to stay, we're here to stay
Howling ghosts, they reappear
In mountains that are stacked with fear
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
A lionheart
His crown lit up the way as we moved slowly
Past the wondering eyes of the ones that were left behind
Though far away, though far away, though far away
We're still the same, we're still the same, we're still the same
Howling ghosts, they reappear
In mountains that are stacked with fear
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
And in a sea that's painted black
Creatures lurk below the deck
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
And as the world comes to an end
I'll be here to hold your hand
'Cause you're my king and I'm your lionheart
A lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart
A lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart
Howling ghosts, they reappear
In mountains that are stacked with fear
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
And in a sea that's painted black
Creatures lurk below the deck
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
A lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart
A lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart
But these problems aside, I think I taught you well
That we won't run, and we won't run, and we won't run
And in the winter night sky, ships are sailing
Looking down on these bright blue city lights
And they won't wait, and they won't wait, and they won't wait
We're here to stay, we're here to stay, we're here to stay
Howling ghosts, they reappear
In mountains that are stacked with fear
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
A lionheart
His crown lit up the way as we moved slowly
Past the wondering eyes of the ones that were left behind
Though far away, though far away, though far away
We're still the same, we're still the same, we're still the same
Howling ghosts, they reappear
In mountains that are stacked with fear
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
And in a sea that's painted black
Creatures lurk below the deck
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
And as the world comes to an end
I'll be here to hold your hand
'Cause you're my king and I'm your lionheart
A lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart
A lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart
Howling ghosts, they reappear
In mountains that are stacked with fear
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
And in a sea that's painted black
Creatures lurk below the deck
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
A lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart
A lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart, a lionheart
Lyrics submitted by Macuahuitl, edited by saraharmageddon, NekoVF, kxb14414, RodSerling, Aamir, Bryndis
King and Lionheart Lyrics as written by Ragnar Thorhallsson Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Nanna wrote 'King and Lionheart' for her father who is suffering from cancer.
I saw an interview where Raggi says it's personal for her and that it's about her brother. He lives in Canada, so she probably misses him. You can see how much she loves him in the lyrics.
This is the best reply so far to make the lyrics fall into place. Father has taught daughter well to be brave, the rest is a metaphor. Thanks!
The Lionheart is the King's head knight and she is always risking her life for the sake of the crown. The kingdom was attacked by monsters and only the King and the Lionheart could survive. Because their home was destroyed, they are there for each other until the end of the world.
Alanna the lionheart?
I agree with most in saying that the song is about the love between two people.
The first verse covers how they shouldn't and don't worry about the petty problems others may try insert into their lives, and even though most people tend to run away from their problems(ships are sailing) during the hard times(winter night), they will remain patient with each other.
The chorus talks about the fear and paranoia people tend to feel when in relationships. Trust issues that build up etc. However the king and lionheart are both brave and confident in each other and with what they have together, to keep any fears at bay.
The next verse goes on to talk about the kings confidence and assurance leading the slow and sure development of their relationship forward. The ones left behind staring are normally family and friends who seem skeptical at first, but are really just to scared to commit entirely, so they end up staring in envy. Nothing can change their relationship, not distance (though far away) or any other obstacle brought forward.
I think it's about facing something new and challenging but having someone you love to help you through it.
Was watching a recording of an interview they had and Nanna said that the song is more personal to her because it's about her and her little brother. They live apart. Her little brother is growing up and she's missing out b/c they're apart. That's what it's about in a sense.
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it may be that I think this way because I'm madly in love with someone, but I think the song has to do with how far you can go when you have someone to support you or how important it is to support the person you love on his/her way to achieve greatness. I don't know about you guys, but now that I'm in love and that I'm sure the other person feels the same way, I feel like I'm invencible! (:
Well, I guess, I just think that perhaps she's the one who keeps him, the King, going, The thing, the Lionheart, the bravery that keeps him from cowering away... That which keeps him going and holds him up, her love is what keeps him going, that makes him brave, strong, a King.... She's what he needs to be the King, his heart, his bravery, his strength, his love... she's always behind him whatever he does she's always there to catch his fall, always there to keep him up and keep him strong, always there to save him, help him, love him.... but... just my interpretation guess...
This song is about the Lion-Heart and how he/she convinced the king to be brave and stand his ground during an invasion. Eventually, the King and the Lion-Heart are taken captive and transported across sea. As they leave, they are drawn through the crowd of their people and the Lion-Heart is at peace knowing that nothing will ever shake his/her confidence and that because of so, the King will always have someone by his side for strength.
Great imagery with the passing clouds in the sky
"And in the winter night sky ships are sailing, Looking down on these bright blue city lights."
I agree with poetogethr that the song is about an invasion. I wondered if the ships sailing in the sky are invading planes or alien crafts of the invading army, and if the things lurking below the depths are submarines. Then again, the invasion could be taken completely symbolically of a "cancer". An intriquing poem and beautiful, intense song.
I totally agree with Zowy: I think it's about a couple that is faced with so much difficulty. It may be due to everyone deserting them, or everyone around them thinking that they will not make it as an end. The "King" is someone usually admired with great strength, and maybe that's how she views him in their relationship. She is his "lionheart" because she keeps him strong, keeps him going. Seperately, they are quite powerful; together, they are invincible.
The line I find myself falling in love with over and over again is "As the world comes to an end, I'll be there to hold your hand cause you're my king and I'm your lionheart." I love it, to me it sums up the whole song.
"Taking over this town, they should worry," Both of them realize they are deeply falling in love, love is taking them over, and normally they would be scared because of past relationships.
"But these problem aside I think I taught you well. That we won't run, and we won't run, and we won't run." The narrator reinforces what she had told him before, that they would be toghether, even through tough times.
"And in the winter night sky ships are sailing, Looking down on these bright blue city lights." Things get rough and their so supposed "friends" don't look back to help them.
"And they won't wait, and they won't wait, and they won't wait. We're here to stay, we're here to stay, we're here to stay." Even after reaching out to them, they won't look back to them, but she tells him that they'll make it through, together.
"Howling ghost they reappear In mountains that are stacked with fear" Ghosts, reminders of their past relationships, come back to haunt them and put them in doubt.
"But you're a king and I'm a lion-heart. A lion-heart." She sees him as a king, strong and wise, and herself as a brave person, therefore they will endure trough adversity, once again, together.
"His crown lid up the way as we moved slowly Pass the wondering eyes of the ones that were left behind." They started to rise and to be successful, leaded by his wisdom, while she was there to pick him up whenever he fell down. They got away from their past, from their "friends" and past relationships.
"Though far away, though far away, though far away We're still the same, we're still the same, we're still the same." Although they are a long way from where they started, their relationship and love for each other hasn't changed.
"Howling ghost they reappear In mountains that are stacked with fear But you're a king and I'm a lion-heart." Explained before
"And in the sea that's painted black, Creatures lurk below the deck But you're a king and I'm a lion-heart." As they go through their lives, sometimes adventuring into unknown things for them, there are dangers that might make them fail, but still, they will endure together.
"And as the world comes to an end I'll be here to hold your hand 'Cause you're my king and I'm your lion-heart." Up to the point where they die, they will be together, backing each other up, because she will always see him as this wise, strong man.