"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.
Oh yeah yeah
Hey, I hope I hope I hope it's you
A long time I've been alone
The one love I had was thrown away
And that was a shame
I come home and there's no phone calls
The sunset is just the light gone off
With love I'm just lost
But then I saw your face and felt my odds improve
And so I had to brave your filthy magic too
So if I ever ever ever feel the light of love again
If wishes come true (if wishes come true)
I hope that it's you (I hope that it's you)
And if I ever ever ever get a chance to hold your hand (take your hand)
I'll be sayin' I do (I'll be sayin' I do)
As long as it's you (I hope that it's you)
I hope that it's
I gave up 'cause I've been through it
But you smiled girl and I heard music playing
I ain't been the same (I never been the same)
A long while but I learned some lessons
So this time you'll get the best in me (you're gonna get the best in me)
If this is supposed to be
They say the first time is the deepest love by far
But girl it's looking like the second time's the charm
So if I ever ever ever feel the light of love again (if I ever feel that light)
If wishes come true (if wishes come true)
I hope that it's you (I hope that it's you)
And if I ever ever ever get a chance to hold your hand (hold your hand)
I'll be sayin' I do (sayin' I do)
As long as it's you (I hope that it's you)
I hope that it's
You got me thinkin' 'bout the future and you know that's not like me
No matter where we go, you make me feel it's where I'm s'posed to be
If I only had a nickel every time I said I'm through
But all the money in the world don't mean a thing if I can't have you
So if I ever ever ever feel the light of love again (if I ever feel that love light)
I hope that it's you (I hope that it's you)
Please let it be you (please let it be you)
And if I ever ever ever get a chance to take your hand (one chance to take your hand)
Oh I'm sayin' I do (sayin' I do)
I hope that it's you (I hope that it's you)
You got me hopin', girl you got me hopin'
Let's take a chance love, tell me what you think you're gonna do
I hope that it's you (I hope it's you)
Girl here it is so let's make it official (come on)
I need to know now, tell me if you feel like I do
I hope that it's you
So if I ever ever ever feel the light of love again (oh I hope I feel that light)
I hope that it's you (I hope that it's you)
Please let it be you (please let it be you)
And if I ever ever ever get a chance to take your hand (one chance to take your hand)
Oh I'm sayin' I do (sayin' I do)
Hey, I hope I hope I hope it's you
A long time I've been alone
The one love I had was thrown away
And that was a shame
I come home and there's no phone calls
The sunset is just the light gone off
With love I'm just lost
But then I saw your face and felt my odds improve
And so I had to brave your filthy magic too
So if I ever ever ever feel the light of love again
If wishes come true (if wishes come true)
I hope that it's you (I hope that it's you)
And if I ever ever ever get a chance to hold your hand (take your hand)
I'll be sayin' I do (I'll be sayin' I do)
As long as it's you (I hope that it's you)
I hope that it's
I gave up 'cause I've been through it
But you smiled girl and I heard music playing
I ain't been the same (I never been the same)
A long while but I learned some lessons
So this time you'll get the best in me (you're gonna get the best in me)
If this is supposed to be
They say the first time is the deepest love by far
But girl it's looking like the second time's the charm
So if I ever ever ever feel the light of love again (if I ever feel that light)
If wishes come true (if wishes come true)
I hope that it's you (I hope that it's you)
And if I ever ever ever get a chance to hold your hand (hold your hand)
I'll be sayin' I do (sayin' I do)
As long as it's you (I hope that it's you)
I hope that it's
You got me thinkin' 'bout the future and you know that's not like me
No matter where we go, you make me feel it's where I'm s'posed to be
If I only had a nickel every time I said I'm through
But all the money in the world don't mean a thing if I can't have you
So if I ever ever ever feel the light of love again (if I ever feel that love light)
I hope that it's you (I hope that it's you)
Please let it be you (please let it be you)
And if I ever ever ever get a chance to take your hand (one chance to take your hand)
Oh I'm sayin' I do (sayin' I do)
I hope that it's you (I hope that it's you)
You got me hopin', girl you got me hopin'
Let's take a chance love, tell me what you think you're gonna do
I hope that it's you (I hope it's you)
Girl here it is so let's make it official (come on)
I need to know now, tell me if you feel like I do
I hope that it's you
So if I ever ever ever feel the light of love again (oh I hope I feel that light)
I hope that it's you (I hope that it's you)
Please let it be you (please let it be you)
And if I ever ever ever get a chance to take your hand (one chance to take your hand)
Oh I'm sayin' I do (sayin' I do)
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.