"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.
People always make me crazy
Love me last, don't love me maybe
What's the point in singing silly love songs?
Who do they think they are to tell us?
Make me sad and make my jealous
Don't believe a word cos they are so wrong
Lola, Lola
Oh sex and lies and mystery
They don't bring out the best in me
Keep jumping from one lover to another
Friend or foe the time will tell you
But do not make a mess of me
I made the same mistake over and over
(Oh) Lola, I've made up my mind
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
Lola, oh Lola
Oh why pretend to be so jaded
It's so easy just to hate it
Everyone can love you for a dollar
But when you find your lust for real
You'll beg and borrow, cheat or steal
Trying to get some money just to call her
(Oh) Lola, I've made up my mind
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
Like a fish out of water
It picks you up and it puts you down
Why do we even bother
When there's only one way out
And we both know it, Lover
(Oh) Lola, I've made up my mind
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
Oh you could stop it if you try
Love makes you laugh, it makes you cry
The oldest game in history, repeating.
The oldest game in history, repeating.
Oh Lola
Oh Lola baby it's just another love song
Oh Lola baby it's just another love song
Oh Lola, I've made up my mind
And Lola baby it's just another love song
Oh Lola baby it's just another love song
(Lola, lololollala lalala)
Lola baby, it's just another love song
Love me last, don't love me maybe
What's the point in singing silly love songs?
Who do they think they are to tell us?
Make me sad and make my jealous
Don't believe a word cos they are so wrong
Lola, Lola
Oh sex and lies and mystery
They don't bring out the best in me
Keep jumping from one lover to another
Friend or foe the time will tell you
But do not make a mess of me
I made the same mistake over and over
(Oh) Lola, I've made up my mind
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
Lola, oh Lola
Oh why pretend to be so jaded
It's so easy just to hate it
Everyone can love you for a dollar
But when you find your lust for real
You'll beg and borrow, cheat or steal
Trying to get some money just to call her
(Oh) Lola, I've made up my mind
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
Like a fish out of water
It picks you up and it puts you down
Why do we even bother
When there's only one way out
And we both know it, Lover
(Oh) Lola, I've made up my mind
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
And I'm not going to fall in love this time
Oh you could stop it if you try
Love makes you laugh, it makes you cry
The oldest game in history, repeating.
The oldest game in history, repeating.
Oh Lola
Oh Lola baby it's just another love song
Oh Lola baby it's just another love song
Oh Lola, I've made up my mind
And Lola baby it's just another love song
Oh Lola baby it's just another love song
(Lola, lololollala lalala)
Lola baby, it's just another love song
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Oh come on. Why do people change the lyrics if they're not going to get them right? They were right when I submitted them. Here they are AGAIN, because I don't know how long it will take to get them changed back to the way they're supposed to be.
People always make me crazy, love me lots, don't love me maybe. What's the point of singing silly love songs? Who they think they are to tell us? Make me sad and make me jealous, don't believe a word 'cause they are so wrong.
Lola, ahhhh, Lola, ahhhh.
Sex and lies and mystery, they don't bring out the best in me, keep jumping from one lover to another. Thank you for the time you've taken cleaning up the mess I make and make the same mistake over and over.
Lola, I've made up my mind, I'm not gonna fall in love this time. Lola, I've made up my mind, I'm not gonna fall in love this time.
Ahhhh, Lola, ahhhh.
Why pretend to be so jaded? It's so easy just to hate it. Anyone could love you for a dollar. But when you find your lust for real, you'll beg and borrow, cheat and steal, try to get the money just to call her.
Lola, I've made up my mind, I'm not gonna fall in love this time. Lola, I've made up my mind, I'm not gonna fall in love this time.
Like a fish out of water, it picks you up and spits you out. Why do we even bother when there's only one way out? And we both know it, lover.
Lola, I've made up my mind, I'm not gonna fall in love this time. Lola, I've made up my mind, I'm not gonna fall in love this time.
You can't stop it if you try, love makes you laugh, love makes you cry; the oldest game in history repeating. You can't stop it if you try, love makes you laugh, love makes you cry; the oldest game in history repeating.
Lola, ahhhh. Lola, babe, it's just another love song. Lola, ahhhh. Lola, babe, it's just another love song.
Lola, ahhhh, I've made up my mind. Lola, babe, it's just another love song. Lola, ahhhh, I've made up my mind. Lola, babe, it's just another love song.