"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.
This song goes out to all the girls
Who had a boy who never let 'em in their world
You tried hard to make what your friendship was romance but still he
Never saw you as the one to hold his hand
He always chose the one you wish he wouldn't have
And now you're there cleaning up the mess she left, hopelessly thinkin'
If I say it like I wanted would you ever believe me
Say it like I wanted would you ever just need me
Say that I'm the only one and I'll never leave you but
I can be the only one that you wanted
Would you say
Would you say to me
Would you say
Would you say to me
Would you
This is a song about a love, I can't help to think what you're thinking of
I hope that you aren't thinking of us, like something you could never love
The last day the last way you looked at me
The last word the last thought you ever speak
I hope that you don't ever leave me, hopelessly thinkin'
If I say it like I wanted would you ever believe me
Say it like I wanted would you ever just need me
Say that I'm the only one and I'll never leave you but
I can be the only one that you wanted
Would you say
Would you say to me
Would you say
Would you say to me
Would you
Would you say it
Would you say it to me
Would you say it
Would you say it
I can be the only one that you wanted
Sing it loud
Oh, oh, oh I can't be the only one that you aren't thinking of
Say it like I want it, would you ever believe me
Say it like I want it, would you ever just need me
Say that I'm the only one and I'll never leave you but
I can be the only one that you wanted
Sing it loud
Would you say it
Would you say it to me
Would you say it
Would you say it to me
Would you say it
Would you say it to me
Would you say it
Would you
This is a song about a love
Can't help to think what you're thinkin' of
I hope that you don't ever leave
Hopelessly thinkin'
Who had a boy who never let 'em in their world
You tried hard to make what your friendship was romance but still he
Never saw you as the one to hold his hand
He always chose the one you wish he wouldn't have
And now you're there cleaning up the mess she left, hopelessly thinkin'
If I say it like I wanted would you ever believe me
Say it like I wanted would you ever just need me
Say that I'm the only one and I'll never leave you but
I can be the only one that you wanted
Would you say
Would you say to me
Would you say
Would you say to me
Would you
This is a song about a love, I can't help to think what you're thinking of
I hope that you aren't thinking of us, like something you could never love
The last day the last way you looked at me
The last word the last thought you ever speak
I hope that you don't ever leave me, hopelessly thinkin'
If I say it like I wanted would you ever believe me
Say it like I wanted would you ever just need me
Say that I'm the only one and I'll never leave you but
I can be the only one that you wanted
Would you say
Would you say to me
Would you say
Would you say to me
Would you
Would you say it
Would you say it to me
Would you say it
Would you say it
I can be the only one that you wanted
Sing it loud
Oh, oh, oh I can't be the only one that you aren't thinking of
Say it like I want it, would you ever believe me
Say it like I want it, would you ever just need me
Say that I'm the only one and I'll never leave you but
I can be the only one that you wanted
Sing it loud
Would you say it
Would you say it to me
Would you say it
Would you say it to me
Would you say it
Would you say it to me
Would you say it
Would you
This is a song about a love
Can't help to think what you're thinkin' of
I hope that you don't ever leave
Hopelessly thinkin'
Lyrics submitted by fallacyofdualism
Stranger Lyrics as written by Jeff Phillips Jay Gordon
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
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.
The song is about a guy and a girl. They are close friends. The guy dates other girls, but the girl really wants a relationship, she likes him, but he always chooses other girls, regardless of their friendship together. The girl is always hopelessly thinking about a possible relationship with this guy, but she knows it's a long shot. She isn't giving up the idea though. She claims she will commit to him, and really wants him to see how much she likes him. The song even talks about how the guy dated another girl and it all went wrong, and the girl that likes him had to clean up the mess, by being the guy's friend like she always does.
Interesting, but just a thought: Maybe she knows it's impossible due to his wants/needs and she's just letting it die naturally. Or just maybe she's waiting for a special day on the calendar to stop hoping against hope. Who knows.