"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.
Just while love remembers
Unknow me as hard as it seems
Decide it and feel light on the breeze
And it's alright you can lean it on me
And I know it's all you can see and to shake it
To make it fall from the tree
And you're called into the water
And it holds you like a tropical disease
And you lean into the weather and it drops you
Just while love remembers
I was given these lungs
And I won't be ashamed no more
We were ripped from those arms
They no longer protect us
Unknow me pour me away
Just while love remembers
Unknow me as hard as it seems
Decide it and feel light on the breeze
And it's alright you can lean it on me
And I know it's all you can see and to shake it
To make it fall from the tree
And you're called into the water
And it holds you like a tropical disease
And you lean into the weather and it drops you
Just while love remembers
I was given these lungs
And I won't be ashamed no more
We were ripped from those arms
They no longer protect us
Unknow me pour me away
Just while love remembers
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
My favorite song of this wonderful album. Just fantastic.
I understand it as a very sad song, as the lovers are tearing apart their relationship. I am not sure if they really want to be separated, maybe some forced thing.
Orlando's voice at the last part is just amazing. It gives me goose bumps all over my arm.
i don't think you're referring to Orlando's voice... it's Catherine Pockson from Alpines who does some backing vocals