"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.
You got the bullets
I got the gun
I got a hankerin'
For gettin' into somethin'
I hit the bottle
You hit the gas
I heard your '65
Could really haul some ass
I'm feelin' frisky
You're feelin' good
I guess the whiskey
Is doin' what it should
I got the cigarettes
You got a lighter
And when the sun goes down
We'll start a little fire
Ain't no use in tryin'
To slow me down
'Cause you're runnin'
With the fastest girl in town
Ain't ya baby
I like 'em crazy
My reputation
Follows me around
Just makes me wanna give 'em
More to talk about
Let's go to town
For a little while
I'll be wearing nothin'
But a tattoo and a smile
Ain't no use in tryin'
To slow me down
'Cause you're runnin'
With the fastest girl in town
Ain't ya baby
You're kinda crazy
Come on!
I see the blue lights
We better run
Throw out the bottle
And I'll hide the gun
If he pulls us over
I'll turn on the charm
You'll be in the slammer
And I'll be on his arm
Ain't no use in tryin'
To slow me down
'Cause you're runnin'
With the fastest girl in town
Ain't ya baby
Well I told ya I was crazy
No, I ain't nobody's baby
Huh!
He's got the bullets
He's got a gun
I got the hankerin'
For gettin' into somethin'
I got the gun
I got a hankerin'
For gettin' into somethin'
I hit the bottle
You hit the gas
I heard your '65
Could really haul some ass
I'm feelin' frisky
You're feelin' good
I guess the whiskey
Is doin' what it should
I got the cigarettes
You got a lighter
And when the sun goes down
We'll start a little fire
Ain't no use in tryin'
To slow me down
'Cause you're runnin'
With the fastest girl in town
Ain't ya baby
I like 'em crazy
My reputation
Follows me around
Just makes me wanna give 'em
More to talk about
Let's go to town
For a little while
I'll be wearing nothin'
But a tattoo and a smile
Ain't no use in tryin'
To slow me down
'Cause you're runnin'
With the fastest girl in town
Ain't ya baby
You're kinda crazy
Come on!
I see the blue lights
We better run
Throw out the bottle
And I'll hide the gun
If he pulls us over
I'll turn on the charm
You'll be in the slammer
And I'll be on his arm
Ain't no use in tryin'
To slow me down
'Cause you're runnin'
With the fastest girl in town
Ain't ya baby
Well I told ya I was crazy
No, I ain't nobody's baby
Huh!
He's got the bullets
He's got a gun
I got the hankerin'
For gettin' into somethin'
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
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.