"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.
I could see a strange fire burning up in you
The first time I looked in your eyes
I could feel sparks fly dangerous and true
Straight through this heart of mine
Now, I ain't afraid to take the things I want
I don't believe the world is gonna change for me
So I'll take the love I need
We were riding high
Like flames against the sky
Innocent and wild, we were playin' with fire
Too hot to touch, you can't call it love
But it's close enough to be playin' with fire
We're playin' with fire
I could see a dark side scratchin' at your soul
The risk is sweet as the sin
I feel your lips as they swallow me whole
Strike like a match on my skin
And I'm tired of wasting all my precious time
I love the way I feel when you're in my mind
It ain't no crime
We were riding high
Like flames against the sky
Innocent and wild, we were playin' with fire
Too hot to touch, you can't call it love
But it's close enough to be playin' with fire
We're playin' with fire
In the long nights
We were burnin'
Caught in a wild fire
Out of control
We were riding high
Like flames against the sky
Innocent and wild, we were playin' with fire
Too hot to touch, you can't call it love
But it's close enough to be playin' with fire
We're playin' with fire
We were riding high
Like flames against the sky
Innocent and wild, we were playin' with fire
Too hot to touch, you can't call it love
But it's close enough to be playin' with fire
We're playin' with fire
The first time I looked in your eyes
I could feel sparks fly dangerous and true
Straight through this heart of mine
Now, I ain't afraid to take the things I want
I don't believe the world is gonna change for me
So I'll take the love I need
We were riding high
Like flames against the sky
Innocent and wild, we were playin' with fire
Too hot to touch, you can't call it love
But it's close enough to be playin' with fire
We're playin' with fire
I could see a dark side scratchin' at your soul
The risk is sweet as the sin
I feel your lips as they swallow me whole
Strike like a match on my skin
And I'm tired of wasting all my precious time
I love the way I feel when you're in my mind
It ain't no crime
We were riding high
Like flames against the sky
Innocent and wild, we were playin' with fire
Too hot to touch, you can't call it love
But it's close enough to be playin' with fire
We're playin' with fire
In the long nights
We were burnin'
Caught in a wild fire
Out of control
We were riding high
Like flames against the sky
Innocent and wild, we were playin' with fire
Too hot to touch, you can't call it love
But it's close enough to be playin' with fire
We're playin' with fire
We were riding high
Like flames against the sky
Innocent and wild, we were playin' with fire
Too hot to touch, you can't call it love
But it's close enough to be playin' with fire
We're playin' with fire
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Playin' with Fire Lyrics as written by Sly Dunbar Bill O. Laswell
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, 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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.