"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.
Rule number one is that you gotta have fun
But, baby, when you're done, you gotta be the first to run
Rule number two, just don't get attached to
Somebody you could lose
So le-let me tell you
This is how to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like a little danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
How to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like the look of danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
At least I think I do
'Cause I lo-lo-lo-love you
Rule number three, wear your heart on your cheek
But never on your sleeve, unless you wanna taste defeat
Rule number four, gotta be looking pure
Kiss him goodbye at the door, and leave him wanting more, more
This is how to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like a little danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
How to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like the look of danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
At least I think I do
'Cause I lo-lo-lo-love you
Girls, we do whatever it will take
'Cause girls don't want, we don't want our hearts to break in two
So it's better to be fake, can't risk losing
In love again, babe
This is how to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like a little danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
How to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like the look of danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
'Cause I lo-lo-lo-love you
At least I think I do
But, baby, when you're done, you gotta be the first to run
Rule number two, just don't get attached to
Somebody you could lose
So le-let me tell you
This is how to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like a little danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
How to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like the look of danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
At least I think I do
'Cause I lo-lo-lo-love you
Rule number three, wear your heart on your cheek
But never on your sleeve, unless you wanna taste defeat
Rule number four, gotta be looking pure
Kiss him goodbye at the door, and leave him wanting more, more
This is how to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like a little danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
How to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like the look of danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
At least I think I do
'Cause I lo-lo-lo-love you
Girls, we do whatever it will take
'Cause girls don't want, we don't want our hearts to break in two
So it's better to be fake, can't risk losing
In love again, babe
This is how to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like a little danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
How to be a heartbreaker
Boys they like the look of danger
We'll get him falling for a stranger
A player, singing I lo-lo-love you
'Cause I lo-lo-lo-love you
At least I think I do
Lyrics submitted by midnighteclipse, edited by DeNi3L, xL4n1x
How To Be A Heartbreaker Lyrics as written by Lukasz Gottwald Marina Lambrini Diamandis
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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@[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.
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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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.
I haven't found this anywhere else on the internet, so I thought I would add my contribution, since I really like this lyric.
"Wear your heart on your cheek, but never on your sleeve..."
I feel that wearing one's tongue on one's cheek is a play on the phrase "tongue-in-cheek" which fits perfectly with the rest of the song. If you google "tongue in cheek" and check out the wiki entry, you will find it means,
"Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously or otherwise not seriously intended, and it should not be taken at face value."
By contrast, wearing one's heart on one's sleeve means (from Wiktionary),
"To be very transparent, open, or forthright about one's emotions."
So to wear one's heart on one's cheek is to be a player, to wear it on one's sleeve is an invitation for heartbreak. I think it's a brilliant lyric! And it makes me sad for people to say it "means nothing" or it's a misinterpretation of "heart on your sleeve."
I meant, "to wear one's heart on one's cheek is a play on the phrase"***
I didn't know that and it makes me love the song even more!!! Even though it's pretty upbeat sounding it's about how she no longer wants to be played so she wears her heart on her cheek now. That line carries so much more meaning to me now, thanks for sharing!!!