"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.
After the smoke clears
And the flames subside
(we have been forsaken)
Subside
A thousand eyes were upon me
Soulless, and without mind
(we have been forsaken)
Will there never
Will there never
Will there never be an end
If I could be forgiven
Every breath would be a prayer
(we are not forgiven)
Will there never
Will there never
Will there never be an end
I have tread, and spanned the horizon
I've seen this world, the beauty in decay
I strike down the faceless and unknown
I feel blessed, for I can see
The stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
Will there never
Will there never
Will there never be an end
Will there never be an end
Will there never be an end
Will there never be an end
Stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
And the flames subside
(we have been forsaken)
Subside
A thousand eyes were upon me
Soulless, and without mind
(we have been forsaken)
Will there never
Will there never
Will there never be an end
If I could be forgiven
Every breath would be a prayer
(we are not forgiven)
Will there never
Will there never
Will there never be an end
I have tread, and spanned the horizon
I've seen this world, the beauty in decay
I strike down the faceless and unknown
I feel blessed, for I can see
The stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
Will there never
Will there never
Will there never be an end
Will there never be an end
Will there never be an end
Will there never be an end
Stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
Stars look down on me
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This is a great song, it makes me feel.....fuzzy.
Indeed. But what does it mean?
After The Smoke Clears And The Flames Subside
Will There Never Be An End?
Lying On The Pavement Looking At The Sky
Will There Never Be An End?
Where Is The Finish Line? Racing Against Time?
Will There Never Be An End?
After The Smoke Clears And The Flames Subside
Will There Never Be An End? Will There Never Be An End? Will There Never Be An End? Will There Ever Be An End? Will There Never Be An End?
Sounds like he was smoking weed. "After The Smoke Clears, and the flames subside"
He's Lying On The Pavement Starring At The Sky And Wonders If There Will Never Be An End? It Doesn't Seem Possible, Because It Is Something That The Human Mind Can't Put Into Words. "Where is the finish line? racing against time?" It seems as if the end isn't possible unless time stopped as well.
That's what I think it means.
After The Smoke Clears And The Flames Subside
Will There Never Be An End?
Lying On The Pavement Looking At The Sky
Will There Never Be An End?
Where Is The Finish Line? Racing Against Time?
Will There Never Be An End?
After The Smoke Clears And The Flames Subside
Will There Never Be An End? Will There Never Be An End? Will There Never Be An End? Will There Ever Be An End? Will There Never Be An End?
Sounds like he was smoking weed. "After The Smoke Clears, and the flames subside"
He's Lying On The Pavement Starring At The Sky And Wonders If There Will Never Be An End? It Doesn't Seem Possible, Because It Is Something That The Human Mind Can't Put Into Words. "Where is the finish line? racing against time?" It seems as if the end isn't possible unless time stopped as well.
That's what I think it means.
Well the whole album is based off the idea of humans and machines merging and becoming digital mortals (Digimortal) and this song makes me think of a human or machine that has merged with a human/machine's body after being dead/comatose as a result of the war (after the smoke clears, and the flames subside) between the humans and machines, so they were one of the salvaged human's/machine's that could be put to use on another human or machine and has memories of its past life that it cannot explain and the viewpoint could be from either a human or a machine merged with the other race i think it's more in the eyes of a machine though. Think of being a machine with the humans memories implanted in your brain and vague memories of your machine life, and pretty much not knowing what is what and wondering if the memories will ever end. I think thats what i mean
this is what Depeche Mode would sound like if they were a metal band. great stuff, my favorite off of the Digimortal record.