"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.
Intro:
Wait (wait)
So let me get this straight (so let me get this straight)
You're dumping me because I'm too good of a guy (you're dumping me because I'm too good of a guy)
Because I basically treat you too good (because I basically treat you too good)
What sense does that make (what sense does that make)
Chorus:
How you gone do me like this, I'm really in to you
You just content like it's nothing, tell me what did I do
It's because I'm really faithful, and treat you good
And kept it real, but girl I said I would
But if you want to leave, I won't put up a fight
'Cause girl you're psycho if you go from me being treated right
Slow down and think this through 'cause there's no comin' back
I'll be a blessin' to another lady, roger that (roger that)
Verse 1:
Can you please explain? I'm tryin' to understand your logic
Are you hiding something? Why you tryin' change the topic?
Is there another guy? I hope I'm not right
No, you just want to be wretched and party every night
I'm not gonna argue with you, you can go do your thang
But if you go you can't come back, 'cause it won't be the same
And I won't keep you long, 'cause there ain't much to say
But I got a couple questions, before you walk away
If I was mackin' or pimpin', would you want to stay?
Would you like it if I fluked you almost every day?
If I only used you for your body and used you for your money
Then can't you tell the curb, when I was done would you love me?
I'm not tryin' be dramatic nor sarcastic
But right now you actin' like your heart is made of plastic
And I can see through all your excuses like x-ray
But I ain't trippin', 'cause I know a blessin' is on the way
Chorus:
How you gone do me like this, I'm really in to you
You just content like it's nothing, tell me what did I do
It's because I'm really faithful, and treat you good
And kept it real, but girl I said I would
But if you want to leave, I won't put up a fight
'Cause girl you're psycho if you go from me being treated right
Slow down and think this through 'cause there's no comin' back
I'll be a blessin' to another lady, roger that (roger that)
Verse 2:
I don't want to lose her, but now I kinda do
Now that I know that when she said she love me wasn't true
Am I the only victim of all her crafty lies?
My momma said this would happen, so this ain't no surprise
But it still sucks, 'cause I was feelin' her
And because of that, I kept it real with her
Is this punishment, from my father above?
Or am I just stupid, for giving her my love?
This girl caught me slippin', I guess I learned my lesson
I took my heart back, just like a repossession
'Cause if she wants to go, that means she ain't for me
But I hope the next guy, don't end up just like me
Imma pray for her, I hope her heart changes
I hope she repents, and her life rearranges
We all make mistakes, we all born in sin
So even though she dogged me, I gotta still forgive
Chorus:
How you gone do me like this, I'm really in to you
You just content like it's nothing, tell me what did I do
It's because I'm really faithful, and treat you good
And kept it real, but girl I said I would
But if you want to leave, I won't put up a fight
'Cause girl you're psycho if you go from me being treated right
Slow down and think this through 'cause there's no comin' back
I'll be a blessin' to another lady, roger that (roger that)
Closing:
Wait (wait)
Just one last thing (just one last thing)
I gotta get it off my chest (I gotta get it off my chest)
I'm keepin' it real (I'm keepin' it real)
Before you go I just want you to know
Before you go I just want you to know
That I was feelin' you, girl
Yeah, I was really into you girl, girl
Before you go I just want you to know
Before you go I just want you to know
That I was feelin' you, girl
Yeah, I was really into you girl, girl
I was feelin' you, girl
Yeah, I was really into you girl, girl
Wait (wait)
So let me get this straight (so let me get this straight)
You're dumping me because I'm too good of a guy (you're dumping me because I'm too good of a guy)
Because I basically treat you too good (because I basically treat you too good)
What sense does that make (what sense does that make)
Chorus:
How you gone do me like this, I'm really in to you
You just content like it's nothing, tell me what did I do
It's because I'm really faithful, and treat you good
And kept it real, but girl I said I would
But if you want to leave, I won't put up a fight
'Cause girl you're psycho if you go from me being treated right
Slow down and think this through 'cause there's no comin' back
I'll be a blessin' to another lady, roger that (roger that)
Verse 1:
Can you please explain? I'm tryin' to understand your logic
Are you hiding something? Why you tryin' change the topic?
Is there another guy? I hope I'm not right
No, you just want to be wretched and party every night
I'm not gonna argue with you, you can go do your thang
But if you go you can't come back, 'cause it won't be the same
And I won't keep you long, 'cause there ain't much to say
But I got a couple questions, before you walk away
If I was mackin' or pimpin', would you want to stay?
Would you like it if I fluked you almost every day?
If I only used you for your body and used you for your money
Then can't you tell the curb, when I was done would you love me?
I'm not tryin' be dramatic nor sarcastic
But right now you actin' like your heart is made of plastic
And I can see through all your excuses like x-ray
But I ain't trippin', 'cause I know a blessin' is on the way
Chorus:
How you gone do me like this, I'm really in to you
You just content like it's nothing, tell me what did I do
It's because I'm really faithful, and treat you good
And kept it real, but girl I said I would
But if you want to leave, I won't put up a fight
'Cause girl you're psycho if you go from me being treated right
Slow down and think this through 'cause there's no comin' back
I'll be a blessin' to another lady, roger that (roger that)
Verse 2:
I don't want to lose her, but now I kinda do
Now that I know that when she said she love me wasn't true
Am I the only victim of all her crafty lies?
My momma said this would happen, so this ain't no surprise
But it still sucks, 'cause I was feelin' her
And because of that, I kept it real with her
Is this punishment, from my father above?
Or am I just stupid, for giving her my love?
This girl caught me slippin', I guess I learned my lesson
I took my heart back, just like a repossession
'Cause if she wants to go, that means she ain't for me
But I hope the next guy, don't end up just like me
Imma pray for her, I hope her heart changes
I hope she repents, and her life rearranges
We all make mistakes, we all born in sin
So even though she dogged me, I gotta still forgive
Chorus:
How you gone do me like this, I'm really in to you
You just content like it's nothing, tell me what did I do
It's because I'm really faithful, and treat you good
And kept it real, but girl I said I would
But if you want to leave, I won't put up a fight
'Cause girl you're psycho if you go from me being treated right
Slow down and think this through 'cause there's no comin' back
I'll be a blessin' to another lady, roger that (roger that)
Closing:
Wait (wait)
Just one last thing (just one last thing)
I gotta get it off my chest (I gotta get it off my chest)
I'm keepin' it real (I'm keepin' it real)
Before you go I just want you to know
Before you go I just want you to know
That I was feelin' you, girl
Yeah, I was really into you girl, girl
Before you go I just want you to know
Before you go I just want you to know
That I was feelin' you, girl
Yeah, I was really into you girl, girl
I was feelin' you, girl
Yeah, I was really into you girl, girl
Lyrics submitted by TWPotts
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.