"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.
downcast eyes
you hear a sigh
says a million words
are you missing something
are you needing something
hard to hide living a lie
its not a perfect world
and are you missing something
are you needing something
crowded room all alone again
feel like giving up the fight
are you missing something
do you believe in something
get a little lost
but you find your way around as you go
you know your not always on your own
from where ever you call
I will hear your voice crying
tears don't always ease the pain
oh no no
you gotta stand tough
you gotta keep trying
i'll always hear your whisper in the rain
you gotta give it all you got now
from where ever you call
I will hear your voice crying
tears don't always ease the pain
noooo
you gotta stand tough
you gotta keep on trying
i'll always hear your whisper in the rain
i'll always hear your whisper in the rain
oh yeah
I said
I don't know where we're going
but I swear that we're gonna get there
can ya hear me
can you hear me baby
oh yeah
you hear a sigh
says a million words
are you missing something
are you needing something
hard to hide living a lie
its not a perfect world
and are you missing something
are you needing something
crowded room all alone again
feel like giving up the fight
are you missing something
do you believe in something
get a little lost
but you find your way around as you go
you know your not always on your own
from where ever you call
I will hear your voice crying
tears don't always ease the pain
oh no no
you gotta stand tough
you gotta keep trying
i'll always hear your whisper in the rain
you gotta give it all you got now
from where ever you call
I will hear your voice crying
tears don't always ease the pain
noooo
you gotta stand tough
you gotta keep on trying
i'll always hear your whisper in the rain
i'll always hear your whisper in the rain
oh yeah
I said
I don't know where we're going
but I swear that we're gonna get there
can ya hear me
can you hear me baby
oh yeah
Lyrics submitted by Naveed512
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
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,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
A very deep and sad song, You will not understand unless you are accepted into the after life. It was written before this earth was born.
"are you missing something, are you needing something" He took her just like he 'takes' the whole world away. And he blames me...
This story is REAL!
Either he is really god, or I am above him watching, waiting. It doesn't matter who wins, there is going to be hell to pay. If it's him, it'll probably be hell for all of us and you still wont even realize it. It's all for no reason whatsoever. He is filled with so much jealousy, envy hate, and greed. He might change one day, but he loves playing mind games, blame, sympathy, etc.
It's been planned, very thoroughly so I doubt either side will would change it. I'm ready! Whether I'm on top watching of all this waiting, or if it is him.
** Related videos/songs/lyrics that need to be understood:
Oasis: Masterplan, Stand By Me In The Heat of the Night (NOT a love song, read the lyrics) by Bryan Adams Our Lady Peace: The End is Where We Begin, Will The Future Blame Us, Wipe That Smile of Your Face, Innocent Collective Soul: Precious Declaration, Listen, Better Now, Blame Ozzy: Miracle Man The Verve: Bittersweet Symphony ("I'm a million different people from one day to the next") Blind Melon: Dear Ol' Dad, Change, I Wonder Birdman by Our Lady Peace ("Your mind is a seesaw for him to play on....") Breaking Benjamin: Had Enough Phil Collins: In The Air Tonight Prodigy: Breathe, Firestarter Green Day: When I Come Around ("You may find out that your self-doubt means nothing was ever there") Foo Fighters: The Pretender Offspring: You're gonna go far, kid Matchbox 20: Real World