"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.
Now I don't know if I'm lost
But this all just looks the same
I am pushing on the door
Between sorrow and fame
I would crawl out of this hole
If it wasn't so cold
In the morning, I'll be fine
In the morning, I'll be right
If I go all the way
Then the girl won't stay, no the girl won't stay
I know I can change
If we both get old, will you let me float away?
I don't want to be young
But I don't want to die
I can whisper in the wind
We can smoke out every night
I don't want to live alone
I don't want to stay inside
I can learn from my mistakes
In the morning I'll be right
If I go all the way
Then the girl won't stay, no the girl won't stay
I know I can change
If we both get old will you let me float away?
If I go all the way
Then the girl won't stay, no the girl won't stay
I know I can change
If we both get old will you let me float away?
But this all just looks the same
I am pushing on the door
Between sorrow and fame
I would crawl out of this hole
If it wasn't so cold
In the morning, I'll be fine
In the morning, I'll be right
If I go all the way
Then the girl won't stay, no the girl won't stay
I know I can change
If we both get old, will you let me float away?
I don't want to be young
But I don't want to die
I can whisper in the wind
We can smoke out every night
I don't want to live alone
I don't want to stay inside
I can learn from my mistakes
In the morning I'll be right
If I go all the way
Then the girl won't stay, no the girl won't stay
I know I can change
If we both get old will you let me float away?
If I go all the way
Then the girl won't stay, no the girl won't stay
I know I can change
If we both get old will you let me float away?
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced 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.
I believe this song is about the writer having to many thoughts on his mind and wanting to decide of what to do, but a girl keeps getting in his way... She is holding him back, he knows if he does what he really wants to do they wont work out, I believe that is to pursue fame. And by float away maybe he think the relationship wont last no matter what.
Regardless, awesome song...
John
Maybe about a person trying to find that fine line between one night stands and an actual relationship? Or a line between showing their feelings too soon in a relationship and scaring away the other person?