"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.
That's the only way to cry that's the only way to cry
Seems like a million tears ago I stood and begged you not to go
I had to run away and hide it was just too much for my pride
That's the only way to cry when you're all broke up inside
The one you love just said goodbye that's the only way to cry
But that was many tears ago now we both love each other so
And I'll never let you go there's different kinds of tears we know
And that's the only way to cry happy tears fall from your eyes
When you're in love like you and I that's the only way to cry
When you're in love like you and I that's the only way to cry cry
Seems like a million tears ago I stood and begged you not to go
I had to run away and hide it was just too much for my pride
That's the only way to cry when you're all broke up inside
The one you love just said goodbye that's the only way to cry
But that was many tears ago now we both love each other so
And I'll never let you go there's different kinds of tears we know
And that's the only way to cry happy tears fall from your eyes
When you're in love like you and I that's the only way to cry
When you're in love like you and I that's the only way to cry cry
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
That's the Only Way to Cry Lyrics as written by Stewart Massey
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
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.