"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.
Sooner or later, the fall arrives
Sooner or later, resolve
But not soon enough
First comes illusion with its well laid plans
The strategy the strategy the strategy is so detailed
And then comes denial with its outstretched hands
Failing is not failing is not failing to the failing to fail
Sooner or later, the fall arrives
Sooner or later, resolve
But not soon enough
But not soon enough
No, not soon enough
With the crack of your door, open like a flood gate now
The damage are the damages the damage when the water recedes
There are people and pieces and poisons coming back at you
Failing is not failing is not failing till failing succeeds
Sooner or later, the fall arrives
Sooner or later, resolve
But not soon enough
But not soon enough
No, not soon enough
No, not soon enough
I've seen this scene before
I've seen this scene before
I've seen this scene before
When you lose your grip when the help arrives
I've seen this scene before
I've seen this scene before
I've seen this scene before
When you lose your grip when the help arrives
Sooner or later, the help arrives
Sooner or later, resolve
But not soon enough
First comes illusion with its well laid plans
The strategy the strategy the strategy is so detailed
And then comes denial with its outstretched hands
Failing is not failing is not failing to the failing to fail
Sooner or later, the fall arrives
Sooner or later, resolve
But not soon enough
But not soon enough
No, not soon enough
With the crack of your door, open like a flood gate now
The damage are the damages the damage when the water recedes
There are people and pieces and poisons coming back at you
Failing is not failing is not failing till failing succeeds
Sooner or later, the fall arrives
Sooner or later, resolve
But not soon enough
But not soon enough
No, not soon enough
No, not soon enough
I've seen this scene before
I've seen this scene before
I've seen this scene before
When you lose your grip when the help arrives
I've seen this scene before
I've seen this scene before
I've seen this scene before
When you lose your grip when the help arrives
Sooner or later, the help arrives
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
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.
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.