"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.
Oh, look around you
Look down the bar from you
The lonely faces that you see
Are you sure that this is where you want to be
These are your friends
But are they real friends
Do they love you the same as me
Are you sure that this is where you want to be
You seem in such a hurry to live this kind of life
You've caused so many tears and misery
Look around you, take a good look
And tell me what you see
Are you sure that this is where you want to be
Don't let my tears persuade you, I had hoped I wouldn't cry
But lately, teardrops seem a part of me
Oh, look around you, take a good look
At all the lonely used-to-be's
Are you sure that this is where you want to be
Look down the bar from you
The lonely faces that you see
Are you sure that this is where you want to be
These are your friends
But are they real friends
Do they love you the same as me
Are you sure that this is where you want to be
You seem in such a hurry to live this kind of life
You've caused so many tears and misery
Look around you, take a good look
And tell me what you see
Are you sure that this is where you want to be
Don't let my tears persuade you, I had hoped I wouldn't cry
But lately, teardrops seem a part of me
Oh, look around you, take a good look
At all the lonely used-to-be's
Are you sure that this is where you want to be
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by BekkaZ
Are You Sure Lyrics as written by Mark Long Marcus Bell
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
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.
Song lyrics are for a song with the same name by Willie Nelson and, as are many here, editable so.......
Are you sure there hasn't been? (some sort of mistake) Are you sure there hasn't been? (some sort of mistake)
You think you've got the gift of second sight Because you argue better doesn't mean you're always right I've known him all my life This innocent man lost my respect years ago
Are you sure there hasn't been? (some sort of mistake) Are you sure there hasn't been? (some sort of mistake) Are you sure there hasn't been? (some sort of mistake) Are you sure there hasn't been? (some sort of mistake)
And it's hard enough to make the same mistake
And it's hard enough to make the some mistake
Little pockets of ignorance I wouldn't have believed he was the one you were searching for I mean, I've known him all my life This innocent man lost my respect years ago
Are you sure there hasn't been? (some sort of mistake) Are you sure there hasn't been? (some sort of mistake) Are you sure there hasn't been? (some sort of mistake) Are you sure there hasn't been some sort of mistake?
(Some sort of mistake)
(And it's hard enough to make the same mistake) (The man who knew too much) (Are you sure?) Alone, I confess...I...I...I (The man who knew too much) (Are you sure?) Are you sure? I'm not sure (The man who knew too much) (Are you sure?) Are you sure? (The man who knew too much) (Are you sure?) I...I...I (The man who knew too much) (Are you sure?) Are you sure?
Not that anyone will ever see this, as neither the group, nor the song, appear in any search. I only found the (incorrect) lyrics after trying to add the group.