"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.
Nada tienes que temer
Al mal tiempo buena cara
La Constitución te ampara
La justicia te defiende
La policía te guarda
El sindicato te apoya
El sistema te respalda
Y los pajaritos cantan
Y las nubes se levantan
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
No pases por debajo de esa escalera
Y evita el trece
Y al gato negro
No te levantes con el pie izquierdo
Y métete en el bolsillo
Envuelta en tu carta astral
Una pata de conejo
Por si se quiebra un espejo
O se derrama la sal
Y vigila el horóscopo
Y el biorritmo
Ni se te ocurra vestirte de amarillo
Y si a pesar de todo
La vida te cuelga
El «no hay billetes»
Recuerda
Que pisar mierda
Trae buena suerte
Toca madera
Toca madera
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
Nada tienes que temer
Arriba los corazones
Nada tienes que temer
Pero nunca están de más ciertas precauciones
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
No pases por debajo de esa escalera
Y evita el trece
Y al gato negro
No te levantes con el pie izquierdo
Que también hacen la siesta
Los árbitros y los jueces
Con tu olivo y tu paloma
Camina por la maroma
Entre el amor y la muerte
Y vigila el horóscopo
Y el biorritmo
Ni se te ocurra vestirte de amarillo
Y si a pesar de todo
La vida te cuelga
El "no hay billetes"
Recuerda
Que pisar mierda
Trae buena suerte
Toca madera
Toca madera
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
Y ajústate los machos
Respira hondo
Traga saliva
Toma carrera
Y abre la puerta
Sal a la calle
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
Toca madera
Toca madera
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
Al mal tiempo buena cara
La Constitución te ampara
La justicia te defiende
La policía te guarda
El sindicato te apoya
El sistema te respalda
Y los pajaritos cantan
Y las nubes se levantan
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
No pases por debajo de esa escalera
Y evita el trece
Y al gato negro
No te levantes con el pie izquierdo
Y métete en el bolsillo
Envuelta en tu carta astral
Una pata de conejo
Por si se quiebra un espejo
O se derrama la sal
Y vigila el horóscopo
Y el biorritmo
Ni se te ocurra vestirte de amarillo
Y si a pesar de todo
La vida te cuelga
El «no hay billetes»
Recuerda
Que pisar mierda
Trae buena suerte
Toca madera
Toca madera
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
Nada tienes que temer
Arriba los corazones
Nada tienes que temer
Pero nunca están de más ciertas precauciones
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
No pases por debajo de esa escalera
Y evita el trece
Y al gato negro
No te levantes con el pie izquierdo
Que también hacen la siesta
Los árbitros y los jueces
Con tu olivo y tu paloma
Camina por la maroma
Entre el amor y la muerte
Y vigila el horóscopo
Y el biorritmo
Ni se te ocurra vestirte de amarillo
Y si a pesar de todo
La vida te cuelga
El "no hay billetes"
Recuerda
Que pisar mierda
Trae buena suerte
Toca madera
Toca madera
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
Y ajústate los machos
Respira hondo
Traga saliva
Toma carrera
Y abre la puerta
Sal a la calle
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
Toca madera
Toca madera
Cruza los dedos
Toca madera
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Toca Madera Lyrics as written by Joan Manuel Serrat
Lyrics © SOCIEDAD GENERAL DE AUTORES DE ESPANA S G A E
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
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”
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.