"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.
Nothing but heartaches, woo, nothing but heartaches
He brings nothing but heartaches
Woo, I can't break away from his arms (I can't break away)
I can't break away from his charms (I can't break away)
I can't break away from his kiss (I can't break away)
'Cause his kiss I surely miss
All my life I needed someone to need me
So I do my very best to please him
But the more and more I care
The more of him other girls share
When I need a hand to hold
That's the time he leaves me all alone
Just keeps me, keeps me cryin' myself to sleep
Nothing but heartaches, woo, nothing but heartaches
But I can't break away
Oh, no, keep a loving him more each day
Woo, I can't break away from his arms
I can't break away from his charms
I can't break away from his kiss
'Cause his kiss I shouldn't miss
To him I'm loyal, to him I'm true
Why can't he be the same way, too?
But the more my love has grown, the less love he has shown
He makes promises he doesn't keep
Sometimes I don't see him all week
Just keeps me, keeps me cryin' myself to sleep
Nothing but heartaches, woo, nothing but heartaches
But I can't break away, oh, no, keep a loving him more each day
Woo, I can't break away from his arms (I can't break away)
I can't break away from his charms (I can't break away)
I can't break away from his kiss (I can't break away)
'Cause his kiss I surely miss (I can't break away)
Nothing but heartaches, woo, woo, woo
Nothin' but heartaches
I can't break away, oh, no
He brings nothing but heartaches
Woo, I can't break away from his arms (I can't break away)
I can't break away from his charms (I can't break away)
I can't break away from his kiss (I can't break away)
'Cause his kiss I surely miss
All my life I needed someone to need me
So I do my very best to please him
But the more and more I care
The more of him other girls share
When I need a hand to hold
That's the time he leaves me all alone
Just keeps me, keeps me cryin' myself to sleep
Nothing but heartaches, woo, nothing but heartaches
But I can't break away
Oh, no, keep a loving him more each day
Woo, I can't break away from his arms
I can't break away from his charms
I can't break away from his kiss
'Cause his kiss I shouldn't miss
To him I'm loyal, to him I'm true
Why can't he be the same way, too?
But the more my love has grown, the less love he has shown
He makes promises he doesn't keep
Sometimes I don't see him all week
Just keeps me, keeps me cryin' myself to sleep
Nothing but heartaches, woo, nothing but heartaches
But I can't break away, oh, no, keep a loving him more each day
Woo, I can't break away from his arms (I can't break away)
I can't break away from his charms (I can't break away)
I can't break away from his kiss (I can't break away)
'Cause his kiss I surely miss (I can't break away)
Nothing but heartaches, woo, woo, woo
Nothin' but heartaches
I can't break away, oh, no
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Nothing But Heartaches Lyrics as written by Edward Brian Holland
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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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,
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