"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.
(Lyrics / Music--Lou Reed) Published by MGM Music
([???])
("Get your fingers in.")
Lady Godiva, dressed so demurely
Pats the head of another curly-haired boy
A spurting pink toy
Sick with silence, she weeps sincerely
Saying words that have all so clearly been said ("You will do--")
So long ago ("--what I tell you.")
[...]
Here today now and dipped in the water
Making love to every poor daughter's son
Isn't it fun?
"Doctor is coming," the nurse thinks SWEETLY
Turning on the machines that NEATLY PUMPS AIR
("Make the incision at the base of the skull.")
The body lies bare
("I want you to think of me as someone you can come to with your problems.")
Shaved and hairless, what once was SCREAMING
Now lies silent and almost sleeping
The brain must have got away
Strapped securely to the white table
Beneath the gauze the body will wither and writhe
Underneath the white light
Doctor arrives with knife and baggage
Sees the growth as just so much cabbage ("Take the bone saw--")
That must now be cut away ("--and cut around the perimeter.")
Now comes the moment of great, great decision
Doctor is making the first incision
One goes here and one goes there
"Ether tubes are leaking", says someone who's sloppy
Patient, it seems, is not so well sleeping
The screams echo up the hall
Don't panic, someone give him pentathol instantly
Doctor removes the blade cagily so from the brain
By my count of ten--the head won't move
("And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen--the human brain.")
Haaaaa!! Here we go, everybody!!
All you fucking bastards!! Yeah!! Haha!!
Oh, oh, Lady Godiva
My queen of the killing floor
Oh, oh, Lady Godiva
[...?] in a butcher store
La la la la la...
([???])
("Get your fingers in.")
Lady Godiva, dressed so demurely
Pats the head of another curly-haired boy
A spurting pink toy
Sick with silence, she weeps sincerely
Saying words that have all so clearly been said ("You will do--")
So long ago ("--what I tell you.")
[...]
Here today now and dipped in the water
Making love to every poor daughter's son
Isn't it fun?
"Doctor is coming," the nurse thinks SWEETLY
Turning on the machines that NEATLY PUMPS AIR
("Make the incision at the base of the skull.")
The body lies bare
("I want you to think of me as someone you can come to with your problems.")
Shaved and hairless, what once was SCREAMING
Now lies silent and almost sleeping
The brain must have got away
Strapped securely to the white table
Beneath the gauze the body will wither and writhe
Underneath the white light
Doctor arrives with knife and baggage
Sees the growth as just so much cabbage ("Take the bone saw--")
That must now be cut away ("--and cut around the perimeter.")
Now comes the moment of great, great decision
Doctor is making the first incision
One goes here and one goes there
"Ether tubes are leaking", says someone who's sloppy
Patient, it seems, is not so well sleeping
The screams echo up the hall
Don't panic, someone give him pentathol instantly
Doctor removes the blade cagily so from the brain
By my count of ten--the head won't move
("And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen--the human brain.")
Haaaaa!! Here we go, everybody!!
All you fucking bastards!! Yeah!! Haha!!
Oh, oh, Lady Godiva
My queen of the killing floor
Oh, oh, Lady Godiva
[...?] in a butcher store
La la la la la...
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Lady Godiva's Operation Lyrics as written by Lou Reed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV 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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
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.
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.