"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.
My mama got married to someone I barely knew
They had me then they had my sister too
I was too young to understand why he left
But how it broke my mama's heart, I'll never forget
It was three years before she met somebody new
And though I didn't have much to compare him to
[Chorus]
He was the best man my mama ever loved
Not the kind that walks away but the kind that don't give up
Devoted and true, someone to look up to
Even a boy of eight could understand
He was the best man
He called me his son and I called him dad
He was like no friend that I had ever had
He taught me how to drive a nail and build a go-cart
And how to love a woman with all of my heart
And one night we watched him get down on one knee
And ask mama to be his wife, and he asked me...
To be the best man and I stood by his side
As he lifted the veil of that beautiful bride
He said I do, then she did too
And she walked back down the aisle holding hands
With the best man
He said I do, then she did too
And she walked back down the aisle holding hands
With the best man
Dad you're still the best man
They had me then they had my sister too
I was too young to understand why he left
But how it broke my mama's heart, I'll never forget
It was three years before she met somebody new
And though I didn't have much to compare him to
[Chorus]
He was the best man my mama ever loved
Not the kind that walks away but the kind that don't give up
Devoted and true, someone to look up to
Even a boy of eight could understand
He was the best man
He called me his son and I called him dad
He was like no friend that I had ever had
He taught me how to drive a nail and build a go-cart
And how to love a woman with all of my heart
And one night we watched him get down on one knee
And ask mama to be his wife, and he asked me...
To be the best man and I stood by his side
As he lifted the veil of that beautiful bride
He said I do, then she did too
And she walked back down the aisle holding hands
With the best man
He said I do, then she did too
And she walked back down the aisle holding hands
With the best man
Dad you're still the best man
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Best Man Lyrics as written by Rory Lee Blaine Larson
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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,
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.