"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.
[Verse 1: Cise Star]
Running through your city. My God, we see the danger
Dodge through the cars. I’m armed with light sabers
We drown in the clouds and fell into the vapors
Released to the street, the beast rage with anger
Yes, he reloaded, but yeah, he can’t focus
No, this ain’t a joke, bitch. He fell into hypnosis
He darker and deeper. Yes, he can’t sleep, ah
He soak in the sounds and he choked on the ether
And then he just let go, so fuck the manifesto
Screamed ‘til it hurt, covered his face like Destro
Thoughts became morbid and sick like Necro
Snap out of it, bitch. Death is if you say so
Live for the weekend. Reborn on a Monday
Run through a Thursday and celebrate Earth Day
Fuck another birthday with nothing accomplished
Did you see that starship in Compton?
Awesome
[Hook: Cise Star] (x2)
I trip to the light fantastic
Blinded and brilliant
Stubbed my big toe on the ceiling
Did it for the $55 million
But the scratch-off only gave me a ticket
[Verse 2: Akin]
Getting deep with Jules Verne, busting U-Turns
Back to the High Life beat. Can you turn
Down that shit, sir? Sir, hell no
I’m Aqua Teen, hunger for more water, let blow
Dare y’all to spit fire. I emcee Nya
-binghi. Man, hear me out—hail to the pale liar
Rhyme and reason, gang of four seasons
Don’t believe the hype? Kill white noise—I’m legion
Run to negro, speak black and lay low
Stay Mary Jane—no "ayo" for yayo
Don’t freestyle—you get what you paid fo'
I’m no Biz Mark, but bitch caught the vapor
Her name Hip-Hop—they all want to rape her
Bust in her mouth and shout “call you later”
Dedicated to monkey emcee
I’m elephant, the relevant—no Black Eyed Peas
Yeah, it’s dedicated to monkey emcee
I’m elephant, the relevant—no Black Eyed Peas
[Hook: Cise Star] (x2)
I trip to the light fantastic
Blinded and brilliant
Stubbed my big toe on the ceiling
Did it for the $55 million
But the scratch-off only gave me a ticket
[Verse 3: Cise Star]
He runs on broke ankles, smash card tables
Then cursed at his hand and folds with five fables
Drowned in the river, his words became dinner
Made a large bet. The catch went to slick bidders
Running out the room, the game just resumed
Now he outs and abouts, devout within his doom
He’s shame-faced Larry—no shoes and Jiffy feet
Willie Lump Lump—young punk, lost identity
Drift like lost cargo points, stay hollow
He wanna do better but es muy cansado
Trabajando? Nah baby, he wanna wallow
In the belly of the beast and she just swallowed
Running out of time just like a broke Movado
He ran from the wise and watched with beer goggles
Fell to the ground and yelled, “Where’s the love?”
Got a hole in his shoe and hallelujah for drugs
Mad at the world, but yet he wanna live again
Talk bullshit again—he acting real feminine
Ran the human race but came in last place
So he never stopped running and falling on his face
[Hook: Cise Star] (x2)
I trip to the light fantastic
Blinded and brilliant
Stubbed my big toe on the ceiling
Did it for the $55 million
But the scratch-off only gave me a ticket
Running through your city. My God, we see the danger
Dodge through the cars. I’m armed with light sabers
We drown in the clouds and fell into the vapors
Released to the street, the beast rage with anger
Yes, he reloaded, but yeah, he can’t focus
No, this ain’t a joke, bitch. He fell into hypnosis
He darker and deeper. Yes, he can’t sleep, ah
He soak in the sounds and he choked on the ether
And then he just let go, so fuck the manifesto
Screamed ‘til it hurt, covered his face like Destro
Thoughts became morbid and sick like Necro
Snap out of it, bitch. Death is if you say so
Live for the weekend. Reborn on a Monday
Run through a Thursday and celebrate Earth Day
Fuck another birthday with nothing accomplished
Did you see that starship in Compton?
Awesome
[Hook: Cise Star] (x2)
I trip to the light fantastic
Blinded and brilliant
Stubbed my big toe on the ceiling
Did it for the $55 million
But the scratch-off only gave me a ticket
[Verse 2: Akin]
Getting deep with Jules Verne, busting U-Turns
Back to the High Life beat. Can you turn
Down that shit, sir? Sir, hell no
I’m Aqua Teen, hunger for more water, let blow
Dare y’all to spit fire. I emcee Nya
-binghi. Man, hear me out—hail to the pale liar
Rhyme and reason, gang of four seasons
Don’t believe the hype? Kill white noise—I’m legion
Run to negro, speak black and lay low
Stay Mary Jane—no "ayo" for yayo
Don’t freestyle—you get what you paid fo'
I’m no Biz Mark, but bitch caught the vapor
Her name Hip-Hop—they all want to rape her
Bust in her mouth and shout “call you later”
Dedicated to monkey emcee
I’m elephant, the relevant—no Black Eyed Peas
Yeah, it’s dedicated to monkey emcee
I’m elephant, the relevant—no Black Eyed Peas
[Hook: Cise Star] (x2)
I trip to the light fantastic
Blinded and brilliant
Stubbed my big toe on the ceiling
Did it for the $55 million
But the scratch-off only gave me a ticket
[Verse 3: Cise Star]
He runs on broke ankles, smash card tables
Then cursed at his hand and folds with five fables
Drowned in the river, his words became dinner
Made a large bet. The catch went to slick bidders
Running out the room, the game just resumed
Now he outs and abouts, devout within his doom
He’s shame-faced Larry—no shoes and Jiffy feet
Willie Lump Lump—young punk, lost identity
Drift like lost cargo points, stay hollow
He wanna do better but es muy cansado
Trabajando? Nah baby, he wanna wallow
In the belly of the beast and she just swallowed
Running out of time just like a broke Movado
He ran from the wise and watched with beer goggles
Fell to the ground and yelled, “Where’s the love?”
Got a hole in his shoe and hallelujah for drugs
Mad at the world, but yet he wanna live again
Talk bullshit again—he acting real feminine
Ran the human race but came in last place
So he never stopped running and falling on his face
[Hook: Cise Star] (x2)
I trip to the light fantastic
Blinded and brilliant
Stubbed my big toe on the ceiling
Did it for the $55 million
But the scratch-off only gave me a ticket
Lyrics submitted by CloudEater
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.