"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.
Oh
Fuck it, you can keep that
I'm smacked
Yeah, I'm smacked
Aye, yeah, uh
Queen shit (oh)
I got everything I need, but still I need shit (oh)
I'm about my business now, fuck all that street shit (oh)
I just mind my business, I don't hear or see shit (oh)
She with you, but she still stalk me on some creep shit (oh)
It's easy to get that bread, but damn, it's hard to keep shit (oh)
Uh, I keep it a hunnit every time, that G shit
Life is just a ho in disguise and that's some deep shit
Uh, queen shit, uh
I'm a side outside
Call the po-po, ho (call the po-po)
Call the po-po, ho (call the po-po)
Call the po-po, ho (ooh)
Back on that bull (bull)
Still wishin' you would (wishin' you would)
I'm in your hood (hood)
I heard you ain't got no pull (ain't got no pull)
I can't save you, ho
I did whatever I could (did whatever I could)
Aye girl, chase that bag (chase that bag)
You did whatever you should (you did whatever you should)
I can't play no club, you talkin' free
you can't talk to me, you know (can't talk to me)
She don't date no scrub, she don't date for free
She don't date for free (she don't date for free)
Uh
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have what?)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have what?)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have rich nigga ID, ooh)
Gotta have lit nigga ID (gotta have lit nigga ID)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have lit nigga ID)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (whoo)
Walk out the bank (whoo), uh, count out the Franks (whoo)
Ain't no complaints (whoo), Louboutin with the Saint (whoo)
I do what you can't do, gorillas and apes (whoo)
Straight out from the gate (ooh), real niggas walkin' through
Get out the way (whoo), Off-White, yellow tape (ooh)
Hop out the tank (whoo), speakers on crank (whoo)
Rockin' my chain (whoo)
Self-made, self-made (whoo)
Pretty and paid (whoo)
I keep a gun with the shank, too (too)
Aye, so don't you try me (don't you try me)
Uh, don't you try me (don't you try me)
Ain't gotta ask about me (gotta ask about me)
They know who I be (know who I be)
Let nothin' get by me (ooh)
Oh, Talib Kweli (oh, Talib Kweli)
She ain't my main squeeze
That's just my side piece (that's my side piece)
I got the pinky ring matching my watch piece (my watch piece)
Stick to your sports, sporty, you ain't in my league
You don't hold no weight (don't hold no weight)
Your bank account, yo no sé (uh)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have what?)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have what?)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have rich nigga ID, ooh)
Gotta have lit nigga ID (whoo)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (ooh)
Gotta have lit nigga ID (ooh)
Queen shit (ooh)
I got everything I need, but still I need shit (oh)
I'm about my business now, fuck all that street shit (oh)
I just mind my business, I don't hear or see shit (oh)
Yeah, she with you, but she still stalk me on some creep shit (oh)
Yeah, it's easy to get that bread, but damn, it's hard to keep shit (oh)
But I keep it a hunnit every time, that G shit's (oh)
Life is just a ho in disguise and that's some deep shit (oh)
Uh, queen shit, uh
(Call the po-po, ho)
Uh, call the po-po, ho
Call the po-po, ho
Ha, one trick (ooh, ooh)
Ooh
Let's get it
I have to burp again
Ha ha
Fuck it, you can keep that
I'm smacked
Yeah, I'm smacked
Aye, yeah, uh
Queen shit (oh)
I got everything I need, but still I need shit (oh)
I'm about my business now, fuck all that street shit (oh)
I just mind my business, I don't hear or see shit (oh)
She with you, but she still stalk me on some creep shit (oh)
It's easy to get that bread, but damn, it's hard to keep shit (oh)
Uh, I keep it a hunnit every time, that G shit
Life is just a ho in disguise and that's some deep shit
Uh, queen shit, uh
I'm a side outside
Call the po-po, ho (call the po-po)
Call the po-po, ho (call the po-po)
Call the po-po, ho (ooh)
Back on that bull (bull)
Still wishin' you would (wishin' you would)
I'm in your hood (hood)
I heard you ain't got no pull (ain't got no pull)
I can't save you, ho
I did whatever I could (did whatever I could)
Aye girl, chase that bag (chase that bag)
You did whatever you should (you did whatever you should)
I can't play no club, you talkin' free
you can't talk to me, you know (can't talk to me)
She don't date no scrub, she don't date for free
She don't date for free (she don't date for free)
Uh
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have what?)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have what?)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have rich nigga ID, ooh)
Gotta have lit nigga ID (gotta have lit nigga ID)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have lit nigga ID)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (whoo)
Walk out the bank (whoo), uh, count out the Franks (whoo)
Ain't no complaints (whoo), Louboutin with the Saint (whoo)
I do what you can't do, gorillas and apes (whoo)
Straight out from the gate (ooh), real niggas walkin' through
Get out the way (whoo), Off-White, yellow tape (ooh)
Hop out the tank (whoo), speakers on crank (whoo)
Rockin' my chain (whoo)
Self-made, self-made (whoo)
Pretty and paid (whoo)
I keep a gun with the shank, too (too)
Aye, so don't you try me (don't you try me)
Uh, don't you try me (don't you try me)
Ain't gotta ask about me (gotta ask about me)
They know who I be (know who I be)
Let nothin' get by me (ooh)
Oh, Talib Kweli (oh, Talib Kweli)
She ain't my main squeeze
That's just my side piece (that's my side piece)
I got the pinky ring matching my watch piece (my watch piece)
Stick to your sports, sporty, you ain't in my league
You don't hold no weight (don't hold no weight)
Your bank account, yo no sé (uh)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have what?)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have what?)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (gotta have rich nigga ID, ooh)
Gotta have lit nigga ID (whoo)
Gotta have rich nigga ID (ooh)
Gotta have lit nigga ID (ooh)
Queen shit (ooh)
I got everything I need, but still I need shit (oh)
I'm about my business now, fuck all that street shit (oh)
I just mind my business, I don't hear or see shit (oh)
Yeah, she with you, but she still stalk me on some creep shit (oh)
Yeah, it's easy to get that bread, but damn, it's hard to keep shit (oh)
But I keep it a hunnit every time, that G shit's (oh)
Life is just a ho in disguise and that's some deep shit (oh)
Uh, queen shit, uh
(Call the po-po, ho)
Uh, call the po-po, ho
Call the po-po, ho
Ha, one trick (ooh, ooh)
Ooh
Let's get it
I have to burp again
Ha ha
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
RNID Lyrics as written by Katorah Marrero Antwan Thompson
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
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/