"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.
[Verse 1]
Welcome to my whirlwind turn like Tilt-A-Whirls
I be throwing up my set yes earlin' up the world and
Going out we goin in' say "hello" to my girlfriend
Vomiting and conquering that C-Class is a "girl Benz"
My class is overseas I be on "all around the world" rims
Women's international my will is like my girl then
Goin' in is goin' wild goin' in is goin' strong
Going for the gold some world-class goin' in is goin' on
I can do this all day I ain't got it all okay
They all say I'm one wall short of a whole hallway
One Halls short to keep from coughing all in y'all face
Man I'm so appalled I can keep them all safe
I can really ball and put titties all in y'all face
That was Robert Paulson and that deserves a pausin'
So that's block piercin', all that's missin' is the bearer
For the coffin that is needed for this beat when I'm done talkin'
Ballin' in the morning this feel like my callin'
This the new bitches brew fall off in my cauldron
Lupe's going crazy! Flow is going almonds
We going back to goin in you gonna need a Garmin
Then go and get a car to put your Garmin and my broad in
Destination everywhere reputation everywhere
Music drop music stop one man take up every chair
I know that that ain't very fair how one man take up everywhere
But it ain't for long though it'll be some closure
Or maybe I'll be everywhere after I'm all over
Say goodbye then start the show fall on off then start to blow
Acting like I'm rapping it's that Joaquin Phoenix Facebook flow
Flow is in the microwave call it Michael Tyson flow
Killing is a dirty job - Michael Myers Michael Rowe
Bring it back like Michael Fox see how far them Michaels go
I feel like I'm Michael Crichton writing with a microphone
I ain't saying you should die but you should leave your life alone
Maybe borrow one of mine fast life life at home
Life is like a box of chocolates pockets full of Toblerones
Pocket full of wallets so what continent we shopping on
[Hook]
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
Don't you hear it screamin'?
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga this that Joaquin Phoenix
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga this that Joaquin Phoenix
Oh that Joaquin Phoenix nigga Oh that Joaquin Phoenix
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga Oh that Joaquin Phoenix
[Verse 2]
Excuse me Lupe this here is your conscience
Supplier of your fire and provider of your content
They really don't want none of you let's put 'em in a convent
You are such a handful you can call us palm prints
They can't get a handle try to run around my track
And you might get a ham pulled swag I got a van-full
Plus a motorcycle and a tow truck my sedan pull
I am like a Superman just without the damn "U"
Flow is tied around the track something like a damsel
Flow is really manly though see that was an example
Remember that for later though because I might exam you
Get ready for your tests-s-s his excellence commands you
See that's how I get it done: effortless and ample
Means I got a lot of that no camel toe or Monistat
No pussy in my program - worldwide
Let 'em recognize from Long Beach to Rosecrans
Put in my work and punch the clock like Riddick Bowe's hands
See my pot is overflowing can I put some work in your pan
Yeah yeah I am such a dope man
Kitchen's really happy you should come and see my stove dance
Movie of the week I call it Beauty and the Beast
And that is just the kitchen you should see just where I sleep
Crib is on some other shit mind is on the mothership
Brain is on my sister boat thoughts is in my brother whip
Fitted hat is Reynolds right cause I don't trust the government
See I'm not just touching it I'm clutching it with oven mitts
Shit get hot this wristwatch looks like it's a club in it
Like the way I emcee man they just be lovin' it
Used to be a pushover now I'm into shovin' shit
You be on your glory hole you don't know who you fuckin' with
Stay off in that story mode I never like a quick game
Came in with a big blast go out with a big bang
You might catch some whiplash every time I switch lanes
See I drive a bit fast nigga kinda insane
Career on stilts Braveheart no kilt
You can hear it screamin' "freedom" as the beat get killed
[Hook]
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
Don't you hear it screamin'?
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga this that Joaquin Phoenix
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga this that Joaquin Phoenix
Oh that Joaquin Phoenix nigga Oh that Joaquin Phoenix
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga Oh that Joaquin Phoenix
Welcome to my whirlwind turn like Tilt-A-Whirls
I be throwing up my set yes earlin' up the world and
Going out we goin in' say "hello" to my girlfriend
Vomiting and conquering that C-Class is a "girl Benz"
My class is overseas I be on "all around the world" rims
Women's international my will is like my girl then
Goin' in is goin' wild goin' in is goin' strong
Going for the gold some world-class goin' in is goin' on
I can do this all day I ain't got it all okay
They all say I'm one wall short of a whole hallway
One Halls short to keep from coughing all in y'all face
Man I'm so appalled I can keep them all safe
I can really ball and put titties all in y'all face
That was Robert Paulson and that deserves a pausin'
So that's block piercin', all that's missin' is the bearer
For the coffin that is needed for this beat when I'm done talkin'
Ballin' in the morning this feel like my callin'
This the new bitches brew fall off in my cauldron
Lupe's going crazy! Flow is going almonds
We going back to goin in you gonna need a Garmin
Then go and get a car to put your Garmin and my broad in
Destination everywhere reputation everywhere
Music drop music stop one man take up every chair
I know that that ain't very fair how one man take up everywhere
But it ain't for long though it'll be some closure
Or maybe I'll be everywhere after I'm all over
Say goodbye then start the show fall on off then start to blow
Acting like I'm rapping it's that Joaquin Phoenix Facebook flow
Flow is in the microwave call it Michael Tyson flow
Killing is a dirty job - Michael Myers Michael Rowe
Bring it back like Michael Fox see how far them Michaels go
I feel like I'm Michael Crichton writing with a microphone
I ain't saying you should die but you should leave your life alone
Maybe borrow one of mine fast life life at home
Life is like a box of chocolates pockets full of Toblerones
Pocket full of wallets so what continent we shopping on
[Hook]
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
Don't you hear it screamin'?
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga this that Joaquin Phoenix
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga this that Joaquin Phoenix
Oh that Joaquin Phoenix nigga Oh that Joaquin Phoenix
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga Oh that Joaquin Phoenix
[Verse 2]
Excuse me Lupe this here is your conscience
Supplier of your fire and provider of your content
They really don't want none of you let's put 'em in a convent
You are such a handful you can call us palm prints
They can't get a handle try to run around my track
And you might get a ham pulled swag I got a van-full
Plus a motorcycle and a tow truck my sedan pull
I am like a Superman just without the damn "U"
Flow is tied around the track something like a damsel
Flow is really manly though see that was an example
Remember that for later though because I might exam you
Get ready for your tests-s-s his excellence commands you
See that's how I get it done: effortless and ample
Means I got a lot of that no camel toe or Monistat
No pussy in my program - worldwide
Let 'em recognize from Long Beach to Rosecrans
Put in my work and punch the clock like Riddick Bowe's hands
See my pot is overflowing can I put some work in your pan
Yeah yeah I am such a dope man
Kitchen's really happy you should come and see my stove dance
Movie of the week I call it Beauty and the Beast
And that is just the kitchen you should see just where I sleep
Crib is on some other shit mind is on the mothership
Brain is on my sister boat thoughts is in my brother whip
Fitted hat is Reynolds right cause I don't trust the government
See I'm not just touching it I'm clutching it with oven mitts
Shit get hot this wristwatch looks like it's a club in it
Like the way I emcee man they just be lovin' it
Used to be a pushover now I'm into shovin' shit
You be on your glory hole you don't know who you fuckin' with
Stay off in that story mode I never like a quick game
Came in with a big blast go out with a big bang
You might catch some whiplash every time I switch lanes
See I drive a bit fast nigga kinda insane
Career on stilts Braveheart no kilt
You can hear it screamin' "freedom" as the beat get killed
[Hook]
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
I'm killin' I'm killin' I'm killin' this beat
Don't you hear it screamin'?
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga this that Joaquin Phoenix
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga this that Joaquin Phoenix
Oh that Joaquin Phoenix nigga Oh that Joaquin Phoenix
This that Joaquin Phoenix nigga Oh that Joaquin Phoenix
Lyrics submitted by Jayculnis
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.