"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.
All this time has whittled away
Like so many days in one
Back and forth the leaders sway
Backing it up with guns
Superpowers flex their wings
Hold the world on puppet strings
Egos will feed while citizens bleed
That's always the way it goes
When will the world listen to reason?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
When will the truth come into season?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
All they want is what they can defend
Before their time is up
Make the same mistakes again
Heard it all before
Superpowers flex their wings
Hold the world on puppet strings
Egos will feed while citizens bleed
That's always the way it goes
When will the world listen to reason?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
When will the truth come into season?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
Well, if they tried, maybe they'd see
It'd do a little good to let the world be free
Handshake and a smile gets you on through
Then turn it all around with a suicide move
But you know it's not fooling anyone but me
You gotta make yourself see what you want to see
But you know it's not fooling anyone but me
You gotta make yourself see what you want to see, oh yeah
I see you, superpowers flex their wings
Hold the world on puppet strings
Egos will feed while citizens bleed
That's always the way it goes
When will the world listen to reason?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
When will the truth come into season?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
I have a feeling it'll be a long time, oh yay
Like so many days in one
Back and forth the leaders sway
Backing it up with guns
Superpowers flex their wings
Hold the world on puppet strings
Egos will feed while citizens bleed
That's always the way it goes
When will the world listen to reason?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
When will the truth come into season?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
All they want is what they can defend
Before their time is up
Make the same mistakes again
Heard it all before
Superpowers flex their wings
Hold the world on puppet strings
Egos will feed while citizens bleed
That's always the way it goes
When will the world listen to reason?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
When will the truth come into season?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
Well, if they tried, maybe they'd see
It'd do a little good to let the world be free
Handshake and a smile gets you on through
Then turn it all around with a suicide move
But you know it's not fooling anyone but me
You gotta make yourself see what you want to see
But you know it's not fooling anyone but me
You gotta make yourself see what you want to see, oh yeah
I see you, superpowers flex their wings
Hold the world on puppet strings
Egos will feed while citizens bleed
That's always the way it goes
When will the world listen to reason?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
When will the truth come into season?
I have a feeling it'll be a long time
I have a feeling it'll be a long time, oh yay
Lyrics submitted by NothingMan, edited by Mady88
It'll Be a Long Time Lyrics as written by Bryan Holland
Lyrics © ROUND HILL CARLIN, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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.
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
another kick ass offspring song w/ an obvious meaning. the song is about how the gov't screws up the world, and the common man is blind to it. it's true though- it'll be a long time before the world changes for the better