"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.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (yeah)
If they gleam in the sun
While they spin and they fit on my truck then (I could remember)
And if it came in a sack
No stems, no seeds in the bag then (I could remember)
And if it drip from my wrist and it look like it shine like new then
(I could remember)
But, oh, girl, I forgot to be your lover
If it wasn't for the 9 to 5
Double-up overtime then (I could remember)
If it wasn't for the Sunday All-Star Weekend game, girl (I could remember)
And if it wasn't for the dough
Gettin' 50 G's a show, girl, ya know that (I could remember)
But silly me, silly me, oh
Tell me how could I ever forget to be your lover
Now I realize that you need love too (oh, yeah)
Spend my life makin' up to you
Oh, girl
Oh, I forgot to be your lover
When she starts bringin' up old dirt
And the fights keep getting worse (oh, brother)
Findin' numbers in her purse
Better put that woman first (yeah)
And you notice she ain't wearin' her ring (oh, no)
Then she starts playin' little games
Comin' in late from work
You better put that woman first
If it wasn't for the makeup on my shirt
Still I'd be chasin' skirts then (I could remember)
And if it wasn't for that fight last night
You smashin' out my headlights then (I could remember)
If it wasn't for parole, steady duckin' my PO, girl, you know (I could remember)
But silly me, silly me, babe
Tell me how could I ever forget to be your lover
Now I realize that you need love too
Spend my life makin' love to you
Oh, girl
Oh, I forgot to be your lover
When she starts bringin' up old dirt (bringin' up old shit)
And the fights keep getting worse (oh, oh, oh, oh)
Findin' numbers in her purse (I'm tellin' you, brother)
Better put that woman first (you better put your woman first)
And you notice she ain't wearin' her ring (oh, yeah)
Then she starts playin' little games (I'm-I'm-I'm-I'm tellin' you, brother)
Comin' in late from work
You better put that woman first (put that woman first)
(So many times) Actin' like it wasn't really nothin'
(So many ways) Kept to myself, always runnin'
(So many games) All that I sin
(And so many words) I need you to stay
(Always came first) Even though sometimes felt like second
(Can't buy no love) You know I had to learn a lesson
(Spend some time) Put in some work
(And for better or worse) Always put that woman first
When she starts bringin' up old dirt
And the fights keep getting worse (gettin' worse)
Findin' numbers in her purse (in her purse)
Better put that woman first (put that woman first)
And you notice she ain't wearin' her ring (ooh, yeah)
Then she starts playin' little games (her little games)
Comin' in late from work (I'ma say it again)
You better put that woman first (put that woman, put that woman first)
When she starts bringin' up old dirt
And the fights keep getting worse (she's gonna leave you)
Findin' numbers in her purse
Better put that woman first (yeah, yeah, yeah)
And you notice she ain't wearin' her ring (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Then she starts playin' little games (yeah, yeah)
Comin' in late from work
You better put that woman first
If they gleam in the sun
While they spin and they fit on my truck then (I could remember)
And if it came in a sack
No stems, no seeds in the bag then (I could remember)
And if it drip from my wrist and it look like it shine like new then
(I could remember)
But, oh, girl, I forgot to be your lover
If it wasn't for the 9 to 5
Double-up overtime then (I could remember)
If it wasn't for the Sunday All-Star Weekend game, girl (I could remember)
And if it wasn't for the dough
Gettin' 50 G's a show, girl, ya know that (I could remember)
But silly me, silly me, oh
Tell me how could I ever forget to be your lover
Now I realize that you need love too (oh, yeah)
Spend my life makin' up to you
Oh, girl
Oh, I forgot to be your lover
When she starts bringin' up old dirt
And the fights keep getting worse (oh, brother)
Findin' numbers in her purse
Better put that woman first (yeah)
And you notice she ain't wearin' her ring (oh, no)
Then she starts playin' little games
Comin' in late from work
You better put that woman first
If it wasn't for the makeup on my shirt
Still I'd be chasin' skirts then (I could remember)
And if it wasn't for that fight last night
You smashin' out my headlights then (I could remember)
If it wasn't for parole, steady duckin' my PO, girl, you know (I could remember)
But silly me, silly me, babe
Tell me how could I ever forget to be your lover
Now I realize that you need love too
Spend my life makin' love to you
Oh, girl
Oh, I forgot to be your lover
When she starts bringin' up old dirt (bringin' up old shit)
And the fights keep getting worse (oh, oh, oh, oh)
Findin' numbers in her purse (I'm tellin' you, brother)
Better put that woman first (you better put your woman first)
And you notice she ain't wearin' her ring (oh, yeah)
Then she starts playin' little games (I'm-I'm-I'm-I'm tellin' you, brother)
Comin' in late from work
You better put that woman first (put that woman first)
(So many times) Actin' like it wasn't really nothin'
(So many ways) Kept to myself, always runnin'
(So many games) All that I sin
(And so many words) I need you to stay
(Always came first) Even though sometimes felt like second
(Can't buy no love) You know I had to learn a lesson
(Spend some time) Put in some work
(And for better or worse) Always put that woman first
When she starts bringin' up old dirt
And the fights keep getting worse (gettin' worse)
Findin' numbers in her purse (in her purse)
Better put that woman first (put that woman first)
And you notice she ain't wearin' her ring (ooh, yeah)
Then she starts playin' little games (her little games)
Comin' in late from work (I'ma say it again)
You better put that woman first (put that woman, put that woman first)
When she starts bringin' up old dirt
And the fights keep getting worse (she's gonna leave you)
Findin' numbers in her purse
Better put that woman first (yeah, yeah, yeah)
And you notice she ain't wearin' her ring (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Then she starts playin' little games (yeah, yeah)
Comin' in late from work
You better put that woman first
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Put That Woman First Lyrics as written by Cliff Lighty Keir Gist
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., 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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.