"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 caught a sickness and they don't know the name of it
I flew to Paris trying to get away, mh
I drown my sadness, embarrassed by the shame of it
But all it seems to do is magnify the pain
I wish I was a strong boy, head in the sand
If I were them, I would be the man
And my lips are searching for what happiness is
I'm dragging my feet trying to breathe again
Yeah, I'm trying to feel amazing
Yeah, but I can't get out of my way, and
Yeah, wish I could feel amazing
But this is all that I can feel today
I tore the page and I put all of my weight on it
So I could stop it trying to blow away, mh
The darkest days, well, I got all I could take from 'em
Starting to think it'll never change
I see my life is planned in front of me
And I don't need to do a thing just because I can
And my friends are talking like, "What's happened to him?"
I'm dragging my feet trying to breathe again and
Yeah, I'm trying to feel amazing
Yeah, but I can't get out of my way, and
Yeah, wish I could feel amazing
But this is all that I can feel today, and
Yeah, I'm trying to feel amazing
Yeah, but I can't get out of my way, and
Yeah, wish I could feel amazing
But this is all that I can feel today
I'm trying to think, at the same time trying to say something
Can't switch off my brain so don't meditate
Every time I crack a smile I can sense another tear coming
That's kinda weird, but what can I say?
I know I'm on the edge and one push of the wind
Will send me flying deep into the unknown
I guess this is the time to let 'em all in
'Cause nothing is worse than when you hit the low, and
Yeah, I'm trying to feel amazing
Yeah, but I can't get out of my way, and
Yeah, wish I could feel amazing
But this is all that I can feel today, and
Yeah, I'm trying to feel amazing
Yeah, but I can't get out of my way, and
Yeah, wish I could feel amazing
But this is all that I can feel today, yeah
Yeah, this is all that I can feel today
Yeah, this is all that I can feel today
I flew to Paris trying to get away, mh
I drown my sadness, embarrassed by the shame of it
But all it seems to do is magnify the pain
I wish I was a strong boy, head in the sand
If I were them, I would be the man
And my lips are searching for what happiness is
I'm dragging my feet trying to breathe again
Yeah, I'm trying to feel amazing
Yeah, but I can't get out of my way, and
Yeah, wish I could feel amazing
But this is all that I can feel today
I tore the page and I put all of my weight on it
So I could stop it trying to blow away, mh
The darkest days, well, I got all I could take from 'em
Starting to think it'll never change
I see my life is planned in front of me
And I don't need to do a thing just because I can
And my friends are talking like, "What's happened to him?"
I'm dragging my feet trying to breathe again and
Yeah, I'm trying to feel amazing
Yeah, but I can't get out of my way, and
Yeah, wish I could feel amazing
But this is all that I can feel today, and
Yeah, I'm trying to feel amazing
Yeah, but I can't get out of my way, and
Yeah, wish I could feel amazing
But this is all that I can feel today
I'm trying to think, at the same time trying to say something
Can't switch off my brain so don't meditate
Every time I crack a smile I can sense another tear coming
That's kinda weird, but what can I say?
I know I'm on the edge and one push of the wind
Will send me flying deep into the unknown
I guess this is the time to let 'em all in
'Cause nothing is worse than when you hit the low, and
Yeah, I'm trying to feel amazing
Yeah, but I can't get out of my way, and
Yeah, wish I could feel amazing
But this is all that I can feel today, and
Yeah, I'm trying to feel amazing
Yeah, but I can't get out of my way, and
Yeah, wish I could feel amazing
But this is all that I can feel today, yeah
Yeah, this is all that I can feel today
Yeah, this is all that I can feel today
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
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.