"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.
It's not the love and honor it's that promise to obey
That makes me think by marrying we might be doing wrong
And until death do you part just seems to choke me up to say malice
For better or for worse but not for long
Because the season soon will start in Hialeah
Every year I like to see the horses run
And if I lose it's just a short trip to Miami
Where a beach bum always some when its fun
Well I was a hoping our relationship could stay the way it's been
And I'd feel guilty if I tried to put you on
You seem to want more than the understanding ooh we made a way back when
For better or for worse but not for long
Well if its any comfort when I leave it won't be someone else
Who turn's my head and makes me leave you far behind
Your competition is the wanderlust and follow it some how I must
You make my heart content, but not my mind
Well you might see me on a news cast from Sun Valley
I hear the skiing's fine there in July
Or I might just up and roster the next spaceship
'Cause they tell me it's the only way to fly
So no matter what the postmark reads from Tahoe to Tangier
Somewhere it's happening and that's where I belong
And I really mean the note I'm having fun wish you where here
For better or for worse but not for long
Well love, For better or for worse but not for long
That makes me think by marrying we might be doing wrong
And until death do you part just seems to choke me up to say malice
For better or for worse but not for long
Because the season soon will start in Hialeah
Every year I like to see the horses run
And if I lose it's just a short trip to Miami
Where a beach bum always some when its fun
Well I was a hoping our relationship could stay the way it's been
And I'd feel guilty if I tried to put you on
You seem to want more than the understanding ooh we made a way back when
For better or for worse but not for long
Well if its any comfort when I leave it won't be someone else
Who turn's my head and makes me leave you far behind
Your competition is the wanderlust and follow it some how I must
You make my heart content, but not my mind
Well you might see me on a news cast from Sun Valley
I hear the skiing's fine there in July
Or I might just up and roster the next spaceship
'Cause they tell me it's the only way to fly
So no matter what the postmark reads from Tahoe to Tangier
Somewhere it's happening and that's where I belong
And I really mean the note I'm having fun wish you where here
For better or for worse but not for long
Well love, For better or for worse but not for long
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.