"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.
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.
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.
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.
The Name of the song is "Background Music To Her Awakening"
I'm Most likely wrong but i think its about A girl that has died and he feels wonders how he is going to keep goin on if the one who kept him going on is no longer with him.
I agree, it seems to be about a chick that died and now he's wondering how he will carry on. But he realizes Jesus has his back, so he's "forever in his debt", unless that line refers to the chick...not sure.
owes a girl something?...
i dont know but its a good song
The Name of the song is "Background Music To Her Awakening"
I'm Most likely wrong but i think its about A girl that has died and he feels wonders how he is going to keep goin on if the one who kept him going on is no longer with him.
this song is awesome!! i saw the live verison of it and everyone went fuckin CRAZY!!!
i agree w/ all of them up there!
She was his everything and he messed things up. Now he doesn't know who will carry her love, because it can't be him. She taught him patience and all that stuff. I dunno... It just seems to be about some girl.
His girlfriend has died.