"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.
Ev'ry night I watch the lights from the house upon the hill
I love a little girl who lives up there and I guess I always will
But I don't dare knock upon her door, 'cause her daddy is my boss man
So I got to try to be content, to see her whenever I can, goin'
Chorus:
Down in the boondocks, down in the boondocks
People put me down, 'cause that's the side of town I was born in
I love her, she loves me, but I don't fit in her society
Lord have mercy on a boy from down in the boondocks
But I need money, honey, give me money, honey
Money, honey, (I need enough) money, honey
I'll take it to the bank, I'll take it all down, just say it to me, oh man
chorus
One fine day I'll find a way to move from this old shack
I'll hold my head up like a king and I never will look back
Until that day I'll work and slave, and I'll save every dime
But tonight she'll have to steal away to see me one more time, goin'
chorus repeats 2x
Lord have mercy on a boy from down in the boondocks
Mama have mercy on a boy from down in the - ooh
Have mercy baby, a little mercy, hang around all day, take me
Down in the boondocks, da-da-down in the boondocks (repeats out)
I love a little girl who lives up there and I guess I always will
But I don't dare knock upon her door, 'cause her daddy is my boss man
So I got to try to be content, to see her whenever I can, goin'
Chorus:
Down in the boondocks, down in the boondocks
People put me down, 'cause that's the side of town I was born in
I love her, she loves me, but I don't fit in her society
Lord have mercy on a boy from down in the boondocks
But I need money, honey, give me money, honey
Money, honey, (I need enough) money, honey
I'll take it to the bank, I'll take it all down, just say it to me, oh man
chorus
One fine day I'll find a way to move from this old shack
I'll hold my head up like a king and I never will look back
Until that day I'll work and slave, and I'll save every dime
But tonight she'll have to steal away to see me one more time, goin'
chorus repeats 2x
Lord have mercy on a boy from down in the boondocks
Mama have mercy on a boy from down in the - ooh
Have mercy baby, a little mercy, hang around all day, take me
Down in the boondocks, da-da-down in the boondocks (repeats out)
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Down in the Boondocks Lyrics as written by Joe South
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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,
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.