"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 was running through the desert, I was looking for drugs
And I was searching for a woman who was willing to love
So I could take her like a woman
Yeah take her like a woman
I was looking for a bad girl, looking for a bad boy
Someone who could take all the night away
Oh baby I could shake it like a woman
Yeah shake it like a woman
I got the eyes on me
Of a jealous man, and if you're looking to run, well then you've already ran
I break down like a woman
I break down like a woman
I'll go back to Rock City,
That's where she saw me
Everybody's seen her, everyone believes me
I've been several miles and plenty more,
And I found myself face-first on the floor
Searching for something
But never finding something
And I don't know where I belong,
I'm just trying to get myself back home
And get a little work
Yeah find my little woman
And I'll go back to Rock City
That's where she saw me
Everybody's seen her, everyone believes me
Oh my my, oh my my, oh my my
I need to find something
I'm searching for something
I'll go back to Rock City
That's where she saw me
Everybody's seen her, everyone believes me
I'll go back to Rock City,
That's where she saw me
Everybody's seen her, everyone believes me
And I was searching for a woman who was willing to love
So I could take her like a woman
Yeah take her like a woman
I was looking for a bad girl, looking for a bad boy
Someone who could take all the night away
Oh baby I could shake it like a woman
Yeah shake it like a woman
I got the eyes on me
Of a jealous man, and if you're looking to run, well then you've already ran
I break down like a woman
I break down like a woman
I'll go back to Rock City,
That's where she saw me
Everybody's seen her, everyone believes me
I've been several miles and plenty more,
And I found myself face-first on the floor
Searching for something
But never finding something
And I don't know where I belong,
I'm just trying to get myself back home
And get a little work
Yeah find my little woman
And I'll go back to Rock City
That's where she saw me
Everybody's seen her, everyone believes me
Oh my my, oh my my, oh my my
I need to find something
I'm searching for something
I'll go back to Rock City
That's where she saw me
Everybody's seen her, everyone believes me
I'll go back to Rock City,
That's where she saw me
Everybody's seen her, everyone believes me
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by redmansfire, BIRDDUDE830
Rock City Lyrics as written by Jared Followill Caleb Followill
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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Fast Car
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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.
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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,
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Amazing vocal! Showcases Caleb's versatility across genres. His phrasing is so unique. I'm too in love with the way he sings the word "city" !!!
Not many men could sing "I could shake it like a woman" and still be sexy :-)
I think this is the story of a cross-dressing rock star. It may be inspired by Lola by The Kinks. "looking for a bad girl, looking for a bad boy" appears to be an allusion to the type of pansexuality exhibited by many rock and pop stars like Anthony Kiedis, David Bowie, Morrissey, Steven Tyler, Prince, Michael Jackson, etc.
The following lyrics could be the most explicit: "I found myself face-first on the floor Searching for something But never finding something"
I would interpret the above excerpt to suggest passive positioning in male on male sexual intercourse. The experience has left the protagonist feeling empty.
@cinesis did you even read the rest of the lyrics? It is most certainly not about a cross dressing rock star or creepy male on male intercourse. wth? <br /> <br /> He's looking for a bad girl that's is looking for a bad boy such as himself.<br /> He also states this right off the bat:<br /> <br /> I was searching for a woman who was willing to love<br /> So I could take her like a woman<br /> Yeah take her like a woman<br /> <br /> Did you even read this part?<br /> <br /> I'll go back to Rock City,<br /> That's where SHE saw me<br /> Everybody's seen HER, everyone believes me<br /> <br /> And I don't know where I belong,<br /> I'm just trying to get myself back home<br /> And get a little work<br /> Yeah find my little WOMAN.<br /> <br />
I believe the song is about the drug Roxy. In the first few lines he says he's looking for drugs. and I think when he says "rock city" he means "roxy" kind of like how Britney Spears meant "F*ck Me" in "If you seek amy." Also, the "I need something, I'm searching for something." I think its about a need/desire to be on Roxy. And "my little woman" is Roxy.
My interpretation of the song as I hear it everytime, is that this guy, this character is this lone warrior of sorts. Not a warrior in the traditional sense, but a lonesome dove of sorts, a man of few words with a mission. He was out there, god knows where, searching for a girl. His girl. Someone from his past whom he shared a deep interest in. She awaits him in Rock city. Face first into the floor, drunk. Etc. Etc.
For me, this song evokes a connection I had with a former friend of mine. The first time I listened to it, I immediately thought of her, for some reason. She was the one that got away, I let her get away. I think about what could've been and this undoubtedly fits the theme.
I don't know about the meaning, but, since no one seems to know this, I wanted to point it out. "Rock City" is Chattanooga, TN.
KoL grew up near Nashville, where I live. Everyone knows that Chattanooga is Rock City. "See Rock City" use to be painted on the roofs of barns down highway 41 all the way to Chattanooga.