"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.
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa
I'm waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in the chemicals
I'm breaking in, shaping up
Then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
I raise my flags, dye my clothes
It's a revolution, I suppose
We'll paint it red to fit right in
Whoa (whoa)
I'm breaking in, shaping up
Then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
All systems go, the sun hasn't died
Deep in my bones, straight from inside
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa
I'm waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in the chemicals
I'm breaking in, shaping up
Then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
I raise my flags, dye my clothes
It's a revolution, I suppose
We'll paint it red to fit right in
Whoa (whoa)
I'm breaking in, shaping up
Then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
All systems go, the sun hasn't died
Deep in my bones, straight from inside
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Lyrics submitted by morfinx, edited by MollyTheCursed, paperbakwriter09, katievanish, shadela16, k0nane, deathboundwinds, WesleyD3, Skeether, katneidig, skyfire84, bones911, lyricfixer, MiniUSB, kk1010, lockbird, bradch, phabicht, LyricalMongral, Coolio831, tuesday22, Jmann3000, REALREDHEAD, ji hun1069, codehead, ryan110145, Kozai, NeiNei, ccarl44, Smoa123, dysthanasia, 04/27/07
Radioactive Lyrics as written by Alexander Junior Grant Joshua Francis Mosser
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Bluewater Music Corp.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"I'm waking up to ash and dust, I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust, I'm breathing in, the chemicals. "
The singer is recognizing a toxic atmospher. He's not implying negativity on his part, so much as negativity in his surroundings
"I'm breaking in, shaping up, checking out on the prison bus."
This is him preparing to break free from that aforementioned atmospher. Prison implying that something is controling him against his will.
"This is it, the apocalypse, whoa."
The apocalypse, the end of the era, or the end of the situation.
"I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones. Enough to make my systems blow." (It's actually glow, not blow, meaning he's gaining strength)
He is awakened to the negative surrounding/situation, and he feels enough strength to break free.
"Welcome to the new age, to the new age. Welcome to the new age, to the new age."
This is intresting, the new age is a 20th century spritual movement. (a positive spiritual movement, implying he's creating or aiding in the movement for change and positivity)
Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive. Whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive.
Radiation is toxic to humans but this is not literal. Being radioactive means that an energy is emitted, releasing a stream of particals from an instable atom. being Radioactive means he's being liberated from something instable (Negative connotation implied) Very creative way of saying that =D
I raise my flags, don my clothes, It's a revolution I suppose. We're painted red, to fit right in, whoa.
Raising flags and doning clothes is a sign of independence from the negative influence Revolution- literal, it's a war for independence. painted red, to fit right in, is saying how they are being labled for not conforming.
All systems go, sun hasn't died. Deep in my bones, straight from inside.
All systems go- He's ready for whatever comes his way Sun hasnt died--theres hope for the cause Deep in my bones, straight from inside- he's got the strength.
**Think about the world we live in, think about our controling and corrupted government, think about what the future holds without a change. Think this song is a coincidence? I dont, and I absolutly LOVE the message it's sending.
Nice interpretation! Best one around here.
@DFox yes your very correct. Only the awakened will actually understand the real meaning. "breathing in chemicals" think contrails and the new additives in food that we banned but now perfectly legal. " Wakimg up and checking out on the prison bus" look to what mainstream society looks at as conspiracy therorists who believe when martial law is activated the awakened one's who are whistle blowers, outspoken, or ones who are seen to resist our up coming NWO will be rounded up with prison like vehicles. And taken to fema camps. That were built in every state in the USA research this for yourself please. Not going to point out the many many references that is made here in this very well written song. But 1 more from the rapper that is featured in a special version f this song named Kendrick Lamar also states that "he will make his mark Even when they start that martial law" further supporting what was stated earlier in the somg. People this is a warning that made mainstream radio time WAKE UP and research please. The government are working on a new law that gives them the power to delete and or add whatever they want which means they have power to censor the Internet to get rind of information like this. Research now while you still can.
@DFox they deleted one of my posts lol. What I said I'm my deleted post is there is a group called Anonymous that is fighting exactly what this song is warning against research them as well please.