"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.
(Geologic)
Now we live from the side of the last of the four corners
Just short of the northern international border
Was born a town upon the pond that all the people call The Sound
It's time to call 'em out, you standin' up or fallin' down?
Saba dug inside a crate and Jake responded, he was on it
We interpreted the sample canceled
The opportunist on the corner acting stupid
We plotting to take it back
The crying and dedication on Gentrification Ave.
No imitation of way back, preservationist rap
We honor the past maybe to move it toward the future
From fresh tracks to emerald street, its foundation
And Mr. Anthony Grey paved the way and now we chase him
But they didn't have the patience to place it as a priority
Herbs and haters never have served the greater majority
Words will never capture the glory of our story
Performing but never forgetting who came before me
In the northwest, northwest, northwest, north west
(Second verse)
I'm from the city where it rains at
Where we bring the pain at
Put you lame cats where the lames at
We fly, we fresh, we hood
And in the northwest, Seattle …
I'm good with that nonsense
See I'm on everything constant
So you better ask him who I'm is
The lost city is the last one standing
We came through the forks so the crown demanding
(Third verse)
The town is enhancing at the current date and time
And in the state of refinement definitive when the climb [?]
When its sink or swim
You want to test us? Better think again
Going hard 'til we reach the end
One day at a time I just move faster, I just move forward, I just move past ya
This is a new chapter from here on after
206 north by northwest we [?]
(Thig Natural)
I'm from the city of rain and we came to spit flame
But come equipped with many mix that could solicit your dame
I'm kind of sick with it mane
I'm from the city where you probably find 'em twisted in chain
I keep it natural that's the name
I love my town so damn much I never change
But I will speak to you through rhythms and over melodies
Travel the Emerald City with visions that you'll never see
And clowns that front ain't worth my energy
So here's the remedy
Northwest, northwest, northwest, northwest
(Macklemore)
I was that kid on 23rd and Alder
With the ghetto blast that jacked and ran and told my mama
Came back, quarterback, playing Steve Largent
With lines and stay on your mind like Brian Bosworth
Aw heck no, this the best coast
Since Vida was ridin' rays on the metro
One radio station they're really not playing it
We need Cube like we need to build another stadium
From Chop to Showbox to the spots that we playin' at
We rock it like this rock, rock turn it hella quickly
There really isn't anything that you could tell my city
The crowds gonna be like "oh wow that was hella filthy" (That was hella filthy though)
I brought my showtoes with me long ass march, but the clientele's listening
Now while I'm at it I'll throw in a backpack
Put the northwest on the map, then go out and sell fifty
Anybody contest, North by Northwest
And it's still no rest 'cause we're not finished yet
We're broke, but not broken
Cold, but not frozen
Lost but not forgotten, we're kickin' the doors open
Anybody contest, north by northwest
And it's still no rest 'cause we're not finished yet
We're broke, but not broken
Cold, but not frozen
Movin' in slow motion, it's that Northwest classic
Now we live from the side of the last of the four corners
Just short of the northern international border
Was born a town upon the pond that all the people call The Sound
It's time to call 'em out, you standin' up or fallin' down?
Saba dug inside a crate and Jake responded, he was on it
We interpreted the sample canceled
The opportunist on the corner acting stupid
We plotting to take it back
The crying and dedication on Gentrification Ave.
No imitation of way back, preservationist rap
We honor the past maybe to move it toward the future
From fresh tracks to emerald street, its foundation
And Mr. Anthony Grey paved the way and now we chase him
But they didn't have the patience to place it as a priority
Herbs and haters never have served the greater majority
Words will never capture the glory of our story
Performing but never forgetting who came before me
In the northwest, northwest, northwest, north west
(Second verse)
I'm from the city where it rains at
Where we bring the pain at
Put you lame cats where the lames at
We fly, we fresh, we hood
And in the northwest, Seattle …
I'm good with that nonsense
See I'm on everything constant
So you better ask him who I'm is
The lost city is the last one standing
We came through the forks so the crown demanding
(Third verse)
The town is enhancing at the current date and time
And in the state of refinement definitive when the climb [?]
When its sink or swim
You want to test us? Better think again
Going hard 'til we reach the end
One day at a time I just move faster, I just move forward, I just move past ya
This is a new chapter from here on after
206 north by northwest we [?]
(Thig Natural)
I'm from the city of rain and we came to spit flame
But come equipped with many mix that could solicit your dame
I'm kind of sick with it mane
I'm from the city where you probably find 'em twisted in chain
I keep it natural that's the name
I love my town so damn much I never change
But I will speak to you through rhythms and over melodies
Travel the Emerald City with visions that you'll never see
And clowns that front ain't worth my energy
So here's the remedy
Northwest, northwest, northwest, northwest
(Macklemore)
I was that kid on 23rd and Alder
With the ghetto blast that jacked and ran and told my mama
Came back, quarterback, playing Steve Largent
With lines and stay on your mind like Brian Bosworth
Aw heck no, this the best coast
Since Vida was ridin' rays on the metro
One radio station they're really not playing it
We need Cube like we need to build another stadium
From Chop to Showbox to the spots that we playin' at
We rock it like this rock, rock turn it hella quickly
There really isn't anything that you could tell my city
The crowds gonna be like "oh wow that was hella filthy" (That was hella filthy though)
I brought my showtoes with me long ass march, but the clientele's listening
Now while I'm at it I'll throw in a backpack
Put the northwest on the map, then go out and sell fifty
Anybody contest, North by Northwest
And it's still no rest 'cause we're not finished yet
We're broke, but not broken
Cold, but not frozen
Lost but not forgotten, we're kickin' the doors open
Anybody contest, north by northwest
And it's still no rest 'cause we're not finished yet
We're broke, but not broken
Cold, but not frozen
Movin' in slow motion, it's that Northwest classic
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.