"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.
When they are amassed
And the time is nigh
Sloth Fist has just begun to fight!
Well we had our fun
And it's been a blast
But now it's time to fade into the past
Here's a little factoid just for you (here's a little factoid just for you!)
And keep 'em talking like it must be true
They say we're done before
Our time is due
Sloth Fist will be annihilated
Fulfilled our right
Sloth Fist will be annihilated
By night tonight
Wanna go to war?
Then we'll go to war
But you better know what it is you're dying for
Here's a little factoid just for you (here's a little factoid just for you!)
And keep 'em talking like it must be true
They say we're done before our time is due
Sloth Fist will be annihilated
Fulfilled our right
Sloth Fist will be annihilated
By night tonight
Live slow
Die whenever
Sloth fist!
Well you see we're rocking
And we're feeling alright
Went to the show
We don't stand a chance
But before we go
Listen to our chant
Wanna go to war?
Then we'll go to war
But you better know what you're dyin' for
Yeah we're still here
And we're fuckin' pissed
Don't forget the name
We're motherfucking Sloth Fist!
And the time is nigh
Sloth Fist has just begun to fight!
Well we had our fun
And it's been a blast
But now it's time to fade into the past
Here's a little factoid just for you (here's a little factoid just for you!)
And keep 'em talking like it must be true
They say we're done before
Our time is due
Sloth Fist will be annihilated
Fulfilled our right
Sloth Fist will be annihilated
By night tonight
Wanna go to war?
Then we'll go to war
But you better know what it is you're dying for
Here's a little factoid just for you (here's a little factoid just for you!)
And keep 'em talking like it must be true
They say we're done before our time is due
Sloth Fist will be annihilated
Fulfilled our right
Sloth Fist will be annihilated
By night tonight
Live slow
Die whenever
Sloth fist!
Well you see we're rocking
And we're feeling alright
Went to the show
We don't stand a chance
But before we go
Listen to our chant
Wanna go to war?
Then we'll go to war
But you better know what you're dyin' for
Yeah we're still here
And we're fuckin' pissed
Don't forget the name
We're motherfucking Sloth Fist!
Lyrics submitted by BonnieT
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
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.