"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.
Well, if I had my way
I had-a, a wicked mind
If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
Weh-ell!
Delilah was a woman fine an' fair
Her pleasant looks-a, her coal black hair
Delilah gained old Samson's mind
A-first saw the woman that looked so fine
A-well went Timnathy, I can't tell
A daughter of Timnathy, a-pleased him well
A-Samson told his father, 'I'm goin a-a-a'
(Help) me Lord
If I had my way
Well, if a had-a, a wicked world
If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
Weh-ell!
Samson's mother replied to him
'Can't you find a woman of your kind and kin?'
'Samson, will you please your mother's mind?'
Go'd and married that-a Philistine
Let me tell you what, old Samson
Well, he roared at the lion, the lion run
Samson was the first man the lion attach
He caught the lion and got upon his 'ack
A-written that he killed a man with his
And Sampson had his hand in the lion's jaws
If I had my way
If I had-a, a wicked world
If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
"Well, your riddle please, a-tell it to me"
"A-how an eater became forth meat?"
"Well, your riddle please, a-tell it to me"
"A-how strong of it came forth sweet?
Deliah, got his army after him
Well, the bees made-a honey in the lion hair
Well, if I had my way
Well, if I had-a, a wicked world
If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
Sewed me tow knot, an' formed a plot
Not many days 'fore Samson was caught
A-bind this hands whilst a-walkin' along
A-looked on the ground and found a lil' jawbone
He moved his arm ropes, a-pop like thread
Dropped those threads free, three thousand were dead
Lord, If I had my way
Well, if I had a, a wicked world
If I had a, ah Lord, tear this building down
Weh-ell!
Samson's trick though they never found out
"Till they began to wonder about"
A-'till his wife sat up upon his knee
"A-tell me where your strength lie, if you please?"
Samson's wife she a-talked so fair
Told his wife cut off-a his hair
"Shave my head, clean as your hand"
"Till I become a natural man!"
Lord, If I had my way
Well, if I had a, a wicked world
If I had a, ah Lord, tear this building down.
I had-a, a wicked mind
If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
Weh-ell!
Delilah was a woman fine an' fair
Her pleasant looks-a, her coal black hair
Delilah gained old Samson's mind
A-first saw the woman that looked so fine
A-well went Timnathy, I can't tell
A daughter of Timnathy, a-pleased him well
A-Samson told his father, 'I'm goin a-a-a'
(Help) me Lord
If I had my way
Well, if a had-a, a wicked world
If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
Weh-ell!
Samson's mother replied to him
'Can't you find a woman of your kind and kin?'
'Samson, will you please your mother's mind?'
Go'd and married that-a Philistine
Let me tell you what, old Samson
Well, he roared at the lion, the lion run
Samson was the first man the lion attach
He caught the lion and got upon his 'ack
A-written that he killed a man with his
And Sampson had his hand in the lion's jaws
If I had my way
If I had-a, a wicked world
If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
"Well, your riddle please, a-tell it to me"
"A-how an eater became forth meat?"
"Well, your riddle please, a-tell it to me"
"A-how strong of it came forth sweet?
Deliah, got his army after him
Well, the bees made-a honey in the lion hair
Well, if I had my way
Well, if I had-a, a wicked world
If I had-a, ah Lord, tear this building down
Sewed me tow knot, an' formed a plot
Not many days 'fore Samson was caught
A-bind this hands whilst a-walkin' along
A-looked on the ground and found a lil' jawbone
He moved his arm ropes, a-pop like thread
Dropped those threads free, three thousand were dead
Lord, If I had my way
Well, if I had a, a wicked world
If I had a, ah Lord, tear this building down
Weh-ell!
Samson's trick though they never found out
"Till they began to wonder about"
A-'till his wife sat up upon his knee
"A-tell me where your strength lie, if you please?"
Samson's wife she a-talked so fair
Told his wife cut off-a his hair
"Shave my head, clean as your hand"
"Till I become a natural man!"
Lord, If I had my way
Well, if I had a, a wicked world
If I had a, ah Lord, tear this building down.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
If I Had My Way I'd Tear the Building Down Lyrics as written by Willie Johnson
Lyrics © ALPHA 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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
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.