"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.
I got a hole in my heart
And its shaped like you
I tried fitting other things inside it uh oh
But they gave me the flu
I'm tired of opening up
On a legalist couch
Just need a touch of the healing stuff
From your Emerald Arms
Open up open up open up real wide
Open up open up let me step inside
Open up open up open up your mind
Open up open let me see the light
I'm hoping for friendship
I'm leaning against it
I watch your reflections
I hope I'm elected by you
Everybody's faking it
Everybody's doing just fine
But when you look inside their private lives
Its just a basket of lies
I'd rather hide out in bars
With the misfits and ghouls
Then pretend I've found a home in that social club
With robotic and judgmental fools
Open up open up open up real wide...
I'm hoping for friendship
I'm leaning against it
I watch your reflections
I'm dreaming of bending the rules
Stoke the fire thats deep inside
Do not mix with narrow minds
Keep the faith, walk in stride
Never mind the cookie cutter kind
Detach from greed, detach from success
Till the soil that you feel is best (don't buy, don't sell just take a rest)
Stretch your eyes on pastoral skies
Steer clear of jealousy that binds
Everybody's down in the dark
Chewing on the passion fruit
But I'm out in the light I've got nothing to hide
And that is the truth
Open up open up open up real wide...
Open up open up open up let me step inside
Ive got nothing to hide I've got nothing to hide
Anarchy is an ideal... anarchy is an ideal anarchy is an ideal
And its shaped like you
I tried fitting other things inside it uh oh
But they gave me the flu
I'm tired of opening up
On a legalist couch
Just need a touch of the healing stuff
From your Emerald Arms
Open up open up open up real wide
Open up open up let me step inside
Open up open up open up your mind
Open up open let me see the light
I'm hoping for friendship
I'm leaning against it
I watch your reflections
I hope I'm elected by you
Everybody's faking it
Everybody's doing just fine
But when you look inside their private lives
Its just a basket of lies
I'd rather hide out in bars
With the misfits and ghouls
Then pretend I've found a home in that social club
With robotic and judgmental fools
Open up open up open up real wide...
I'm hoping for friendship
I'm leaning against it
I watch your reflections
I'm dreaming of bending the rules
Stoke the fire thats deep inside
Do not mix with narrow minds
Keep the faith, walk in stride
Never mind the cookie cutter kind
Detach from greed, detach from success
Till the soil that you feel is best (don't buy, don't sell just take a rest)
Stretch your eyes on pastoral skies
Steer clear of jealousy that binds
Everybody's down in the dark
Chewing on the passion fruit
But I'm out in the light I've got nothing to hide
And that is the truth
Open up open up open up real wide...
Open up open up open up let me step inside
Ive got nothing to hide I've got nothing to hide
Anarchy is an ideal... anarchy is an ideal anarchy is an ideal
Lyrics submitted by McThuggin2011
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.