"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.
When the chute gate wings open, here we go again
The desperate dance, the kick and the spin
Dust risin' from a cross bred bull, fire meets with pride
The man's come a long way, just for the short ride
His wife's in the grandstands, tryin to swallow the fear
A little baby inside her, who's time's drawing near
The bulls flying high now, then he falls to his side
Their love came a long way, just for the short ride
Two hearts in the darkness, sing a blue lullaby
Beat the drum slowly, for a cowboy's last ride
And when the dust had all settled and the crowd disappeared
The sirens still echo, in an unborn childs ear
Little boys due in April, he has his daddy's blue eyes
He'll always remember, his father's last ride
They preached at the service, from john 25
How christ came along way, just for the short ride
Beat the drum slowly, for a cowboy's last ride
Well the chute gate swings open, here we go again
The desperate dance, the kick and the spin
Dust risin' from a cross bred bull, fire meets with pride
The man's come a long way, just for the short ride
His wife's in the grandstands, tryin to swallow the fear
A little baby inside her, who's time's drawing near
The bulls flying high now, then he falls to his side
Their love came a long way, just for the short ride
Two hearts in the darkness, sing a blue lullaby
Beat the drum slowly, for a cowboy's last ride
And when the dust had all settled and the crowd disappeared
The sirens still echo, in an unborn childs ear
Little boys due in April, he has his daddy's blue eyes
He'll always remember, his father's last ride
They preached at the service, from john 25
How christ came along way, just for the short ride
Beat the drum slowly, for a cowboy's last ride
Well the chute gate swings open, here we go again
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
All This Way for the Short Ride Lyrics as written by Tom Russell Paual Zarzyski
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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
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.
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This song is the true story of the last bull ride of my father, as written by his friend and cowboy poet Paul Zarzyski in collaboration with folk singer and artist Tom Russell. For a detailed account of what happened that night, read my blog post:
docs.google.com/document/d/1aDF41m2PTz0QGF44C9xJ6cbX6dxwLOq8DFGG2GqXvjs/edit