"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.
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
No trouble you know
Keep my lights down low
Got a home down south
On the river route
It's a funky dream
It's a funky scene
All the law will allow
Got a junk yard dog
Got a cow and a hog
It's a country style
It ain't too wild
Getting by you know
Well I keep it all hid
Keep it under the lid
Got a long-legged girl
She's the best in the world
Ain't advertising, you know
Just doing my thing
Just doing my thing
Just doing my thing
Can you hear me sing
Just doing my thing
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
No trouble you know
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
No trouble you know
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
No trouble you know
Keep my lights down low
Got a home down south
On the river route
It's a funky dream
It's a funky scene
All the law will allow
Got a junk yard dog
Got a cow and a hog
It's a country style
It ain't too wild
Getting by you know
Well I keep it all hid
Keep it under the lid
Got a long-legged girl
She's the best in the world
Ain't advertising, you know
Just doing my thing
Just doing my thing
Just doing my thing
Can you hear me sing
Just doing my thing
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
No trouble you know
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
Keep my lights down low
No trouble you know
Keep my lights down low
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Lights Down Low Lyrics as written by J. Cale
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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
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”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
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,