"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.
It's a beautiful day for the race.
Stu Chan is the favorite today,
Assault is in there,
Dog Biscuit is three to one,
Safety Pin has been scratched, (ha ha)
and at twenty to one: Feitlebaum.
Now the horses are approaching the starting gate,
and eh,
THERE THEY GOOOOOO!
And it's Stu Chan going to the front,
Cabbage is second on the rail,
Beautiful Linda is third by a length,
and Feitlebaum.
Around the first turn
Stu Chan is still in front,
Cabbage is second by a head (Cabbage by a head!),
Beautiful Linda is third and Feitlebaum.
Into the back stretch,
Dog Bisquit is now leading the pack,
Lady Avalon is second, very close.
Banana is coming up through the bunch
(Banana coming up through the bunch!)
and Feitlebaum.
At the half Stu Chan still out in the front,
Apartment House is second with plenty of room,
Assault is passing Battery (Assault and Battery!),
Notary's Old Jack is fourth,
and in last place by ten lengths I believe it is, yes,
it is Feitlebaum.
Around the turn,
heading for home,
it's Stu Chan and Dog Bisquit and Girdle in the stretch.
Flying Sylvester is third and Mother-In-Law nagging in the rear
(Oh! Oh! Oh!).
And now they come down to the wire,
and it's number one and now number two
and it's very close,
it'll either be a photo finish or an oil painting,
and now Louis speaks with the left,
and Louis is in there,
slugging,
and it's a battle,
and now they are tearing hair,
there's hair all over the ring,
there's hair all over the place,
I don't know whose hair it is.
It' mine!
AND THERE GOES THE WINNERRRRRRRRR!
Feitlebaum..............
Stu Chan is the favorite today,
Assault is in there,
Dog Biscuit is three to one,
Safety Pin has been scratched, (ha ha)
and at twenty to one: Feitlebaum.
Now the horses are approaching the starting gate,
and eh,
THERE THEY GOOOOOO!
And it's Stu Chan going to the front,
Cabbage is second on the rail,
Beautiful Linda is third by a length,
and Feitlebaum.
Around the first turn
Stu Chan is still in front,
Cabbage is second by a head (Cabbage by a head!),
Beautiful Linda is third and Feitlebaum.
Into the back stretch,
Dog Bisquit is now leading the pack,
Lady Avalon is second, very close.
Banana is coming up through the bunch
(Banana coming up through the bunch!)
and Feitlebaum.
At the half Stu Chan still out in the front,
Apartment House is second with plenty of room,
Assault is passing Battery (Assault and Battery!),
Notary's Old Jack is fourth,
and in last place by ten lengths I believe it is, yes,
it is Feitlebaum.
Around the turn,
heading for home,
it's Stu Chan and Dog Bisquit and Girdle in the stretch.
Flying Sylvester is third and Mother-In-Law nagging in the rear
(Oh! Oh! Oh!).
And now they come down to the wire,
and it's number one and now number two
and it's very close,
it'll either be a photo finish or an oil painting,
and now Louis speaks with the left,
and Louis is in there,
slugging,
and it's a battle,
and now they are tearing hair,
there's hair all over the ring,
there's hair all over the place,
I don't know whose hair it is.
It' mine!
AND THERE GOES THE WINNERRRRRRRRR!
Feitlebaum..............
Lyrics submitted by JohnnyLurg
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.