"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.
You can't go home, no I swear you never can
You can walk a million miles and get nowhere
I got no where to go and it seems I came back
Just filling in the lines for the holes, and the cracks
Hey, no one knows me
No one saves me
No one loves or hates me
I've been away for too long
This place has a special kind of falling apart
Like they put the whole thing together in the dark
No one knows where the edge of the knife is
And no one knows where intelligent life is
Hey, no one knows me
No one saves me
No one loves or hates me
Going straight
I only ever really wanted a break
I've been away for too long
No I never really wanted to stay
I've been away for too long
I've been away for too long
I've been away for too long
Keyholes, trough keyholes
Where those
I am still hiding
Everyone inside
Tank girls and fly guns and silver boots on my way home
Going straight
I only ever really wanted a break
I've been away for too long
No I never really wanted to stay
Going straight
I only ever really wanted a break
I've been away for too long
No I never really wanted to stay
I've been away for too long
You can walk a million miles and get nowhere
I got no where to go and it seems I came back
Just filling in the lines for the holes, and the cracks
Hey, no one knows me
No one saves me
No one loves or hates me
I've been away for too long
This place has a special kind of falling apart
Like they put the whole thing together in the dark
No one knows where the edge of the knife is
And no one knows where intelligent life is
Hey, no one knows me
No one saves me
No one loves or hates me
Going straight
I only ever really wanted a break
I've been away for too long
No I never really wanted to stay
I've been away for too long
I've been away for too long
I've been away for too long
Keyholes, trough keyholes
Where those
I am still hiding
Everyone inside
Tank girls and fly guns and silver boots on my way home
Going straight
I only ever really wanted a break
I've been away for too long
No I never really wanted to stay
Going straight
I only ever really wanted a break
I've been away for too long
No I never really wanted to stay
I've been away for too long
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by skyfire, SayWhatever
Been Away Too Long Lyrics as written by Chris Cornell Benedict Shepherd Hunter
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
As with most Soundgarden lyrics, there is a mixture of representative symbolism, (mostly) meaningless wordplay, and clever concepts posed for cleverness's sake.
The first verse is more representative: obvious references to Soundgarden's reunion, perhaps of coming back to Seattle, of the journey they've been on.
The chorus might deal with the many hats and musical styles Cornell has tried on, and specifically how the world has reacted to all that. I also think there's a lot of just "rock n roll" sounding words that are there to sound cool.
The bridge is more interesting. "Kilos through keyholes", "widows through windows" evokes (perhaps?) the dark private lives of a lot of these Seattle musicians, and the widows a few of them (most notably, Kurt Cobain) left behind. Pilots through eyelets might just be fun rhyming nonsense or it could refer to the shrinking and flying sensations one gets on certain mixtures of drugs...I imagine feeling like I'm floating and then feeling like I'm shrinking, small enough that I can float right through an eyelet on my shoe. Tankards, flagons, snifters, and flutes are all, to some extent or another, paraphernelia evocative of late 19th century drug use.