"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.
One, two, one, two, three
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
From the very first time I blessed my eyes on you, girl
My heart says follow through
But I know now, that I'm way down on your line
But the waitin' feel is fine
So don't treat me like a puppet on a string
'Cause I know how to do my thing
Don't talk to me as if you think I'm dumb
I wanna know when you're gonna come, see
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
'Cause if summer is here
I'm still waiting there
Winter is here
And I'm still waiting there
Like I said
It's been three years since I'm knockin' on your door
And I still can knock some more
Ooh, girl, ooh girl, is it feasible?
I wanna know, now, for I to knock some more
Ya see, in life I know there's lots of grief
But your love is my relief
Tears in my eyes burn, tears in my eyes burn
While I'm waiting, while I'm waiting for my turn
See
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, oh
I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
No, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
No, I, no, I (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
(I don't wanna) I don't wanna wait in vain
No, no, no, I, no, I (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
(I don't wanna, I don't wanna wait in vain)
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
It's my love that you're running from (I don't wanna, I don't wanna wait in vain)
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
It's my love that you're running from (I don't wanna, I don't wanna wait in vain)
Oh, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
From the very first time I blessed my eyes on you, girl
My heart says follow through
But I know now, that I'm way down on your line
But the waitin' feel is fine
So don't treat me like a puppet on a string
'Cause I know how to do my thing
Don't talk to me as if you think I'm dumb
I wanna know when you're gonna come, see
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
'Cause if summer is here
I'm still waiting there
Winter is here
And I'm still waiting there
Like I said
It's been three years since I'm knockin' on your door
And I still can knock some more
Ooh, girl, ooh girl, is it feasible?
I wanna know, now, for I to knock some more
Ya see, in life I know there's lots of grief
But your love is my relief
Tears in my eyes burn, tears in my eyes burn
While I'm waiting, while I'm waiting for my turn
See
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, oh
I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
No, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
No, I, no, I (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
(I don't wanna) I don't wanna wait in vain
No, no, no, I, no, I (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
(I don't wanna, I don't wanna wait in vain)
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
It's my love that you're running from (I don't wanna, I don't wanna wait in vain)
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
It's my love that you're running from (I don't wanna, I don't wanna wait in vain)
Oh, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
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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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
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.
Well I'm dead interested to know now, which version is right? Is it for Mrs. Rita Marley or for one of Bob's ladies? This is up there with the best unrequited love songs, it sure has souulll, if this tune has touched you try listening to 'Something about Us' by Daft Punk, I guarantee you're on the right track OOOH GIRL
this is the song that i remember the woman of my life. I love her ! always loved, and I don't know when this feeling is gonna disapear from my heart!
its such a sweet song...it can make me cry and make me happy
it's the perfect song for someone to play for the person they are hopelessly in love with, just so no signals are crossed and emotions are confused with who wants what.
To me, this song is about loving a person unconditionally, but that person isn't ready for that love, and is therefore running away from it. It's about two people who have been together for a long time, and one person is starting to feel even more love, while the other one is running from the love.
Love, one of the best emotions in the world can also be one of the hardest to face. This song is about the darker side of love.
This song does speak to anyone who has loved and still loves that special person unconditionally.
oh I love this song ands I feel the lyrics, and i like that bradley nowells of Sublime stole the way Bob sings ooh girl, ooh girl. i didn't think anyone else could get it right but he does.
singsNoo..i don't wanna i don't wanna i don't wanna i don't wanna i don't wanna wait iiin vaaain..
i was just thinking about the title to this song, not knowing like the words except for the main line, and then i was like "shit! if these lyrics are what i think they could be about, i'ts like my life story" i say songs are like my life a lot, but yeah, this one definitely is.
it's a comfort
totally know what you mean heard it and thought it was written for my situation
beautiful song...Bob Marley is amazing.
always cheers me up :D