"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.
I've been caught at the scene of the crime.
I'm in love with a woman,
But the woman's not mine.
Shes tied the knot with an acquaintance.
I'm doing my best to be patient.
I wrote her a song but she wasn't impressed.
She's nonchalant but she's so well dressed.
I'm in love, with bad timing.
She's in love, the knots unwinding.
I'm in love, and I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry whoa (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry!
And I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry whoa (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry!
Is it driven by selfish ambition.
I feel like a traitor on a patriots mission.
It ain't life, it ain't death, it is love, love, love.
I'm in love with a woman,
But the woman's not mine.
Shes tied the knot with an acquaintance.
I'm doing my best to be patient.
I wrote her a song but she wasn't impressed.
She's nonchalant but she's so well dressed.
I'm in love, with bad timing.
She's in love, the knots unwinding.
I'm in love
And I'm sorry that I fell (sorry that I fell)
I'm sure he treats you very well (I'm sure he treats you very well)
I hope to see you soon (I hope to see you soon)
I've been howlin' at the moon
Call me if you can (call me if you can)
I want to be your man (I want to be your man)
I'm in love, with bad timing.
She's in love, the knots unwinding.
I'm in love, and I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry whoa (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry!
And I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry whoa (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry!
I'm in love with a woman,
But the woman's not mine.
Shes tied the knot with an acquaintance.
I'm doing my best to be patient.
I wrote her a song but she wasn't impressed.
She's nonchalant but she's so well dressed.
I'm in love, with bad timing.
She's in love, the knots unwinding.
I'm in love, and I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry whoa (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry!
And I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry whoa (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry!
Is it driven by selfish ambition.
I feel like a traitor on a patriots mission.
It ain't life, it ain't death, it is love, love, love.
I'm in love with a woman,
But the woman's not mine.
Shes tied the knot with an acquaintance.
I'm doing my best to be patient.
I wrote her a song but she wasn't impressed.
She's nonchalant but she's so well dressed.
I'm in love, with bad timing.
She's in love, the knots unwinding.
I'm in love
And I'm sorry that I fell (sorry that I fell)
I'm sure he treats you very well (I'm sure he treats you very well)
I hope to see you soon (I hope to see you soon)
I've been howlin' at the moon
Call me if you can (call me if you can)
I want to be your man (I want to be your man)
I'm in love, with bad timing.
She's in love, the knots unwinding.
I'm in love, and I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry whoa (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry!
And I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry whoa (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry (sorry)
Yeah I'm sorry!
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This song has kind of a long explanation. Chris wrote it about now ex-girlfriend Kristin Krewson. Kristin was with Chris for 7 years on and off. Kristin told fans that the reason she officially called it quits was because Chris cheated on her when he went to Europe for tour. Anyways Kristin moved on with a man named Christian. Kristin had a promise ring from this guys and she really loved him. This song is about Chris talking about her moving on and falling in love with another man. That he's really sorry for what he did to her and how he wants her back.