"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.
Hey let's party let's get down
Let's turn the radio on this is the meltdown
Get out the camera take a picture
The drag Queens and the freaks are all out on the town
And cowboy Jane's in bed
Nursin' a swollen head
Sunshine Sally and Peter Ustanov
Don't like the scene anyhow
I dropped acid on a Saturday night
Just to see what the fuss was about
Now there goes the neighborhood
Photo chick made to look sickly
Is standin' in her panties in the shower
She plays the guitar in the bathroom
While the police dust her mother's plastic flowers
And schoolboy John's in jail
Makin' a killin' through the U.S. mail
Sunshine Sally and Peter Ustanov
Don't like the scene anyhow
I dropped acid on a Saturday night
Just to see what the fuss was about
There goes the neighborhood
Neighborhood, now there goes the neighborhood
This is the movie of the screenplay
Of the book about a girl who meets a junkie
The messenger gets shot down
Just for carryin' the message to a flunkies
We can't be certain who the villains are
'cause everyone's so pretty
But the after party's sure to be
A wing ding as it moves into your city
Sunshine Sally and Peter Ustanov
Don't like the scene anyhow
I dropped acid on a Saturday night
Just to see what the stink was about
Sunshine Sally and Peter Ustanov
Don't like the scene anyhow
I dropped acid on a Saturday night
Just to see what the fuss was about
Now there goes the neighborhood
An' there goes the neighborhood
Let's turn the radio on this is the meltdown
Get out the camera take a picture
The drag Queens and the freaks are all out on the town
And cowboy Jane's in bed
Nursin' a swollen head
Sunshine Sally and Peter Ustanov
Don't like the scene anyhow
I dropped acid on a Saturday night
Just to see what the fuss was about
Now there goes the neighborhood
Photo chick made to look sickly
Is standin' in her panties in the shower
She plays the guitar in the bathroom
While the police dust her mother's plastic flowers
And schoolboy John's in jail
Makin' a killin' through the U.S. mail
Sunshine Sally and Peter Ustanov
Don't like the scene anyhow
I dropped acid on a Saturday night
Just to see what the fuss was about
There goes the neighborhood
Neighborhood, now there goes the neighborhood
This is the movie of the screenplay
Of the book about a girl who meets a junkie
The messenger gets shot down
Just for carryin' the message to a flunkies
We can't be certain who the villains are
'cause everyone's so pretty
But the after party's sure to be
A wing ding as it moves into your city
Sunshine Sally and Peter Ustanov
Don't like the scene anyhow
I dropped acid on a Saturday night
Just to see what the stink was about
Sunshine Sally and Peter Ustanov
Don't like the scene anyhow
I dropped acid on a Saturday night
Just to see what the fuss was about
Now there goes the neighborhood
An' there goes the neighborhood
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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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
"The Neighborhood" is a surreal character study. Crow says, "My studio's in the meat-packing district, an area filled with Hell's Angels, transvestites and very colorful people. The song's about looking at surfaces and making judgment calls. Sadly enough, people do that all the time."" hiponline.com/artist/music/c/crow_sheryl/
This ballad sounds like a junkie's trip through the underbelly of Hollywood. I could be wrong about this one but it is really weird even by Crow's standards. It's a great song nonetheless, extremely weird though.
"And Cowboy Jane's in bed Nursing a swollen head"
Calamity Jane (probably the most famous cowboy Jane?) was an itinerant alcoholic, so being in bed nursing a swollen head may well be a reference to a major hangover following a night on the town?
"And Schoolboy John's in jail Making a killing through the U.S. Mail"
A reference to the UNABomber Theodore John Kaczynski who was a child prodigy, entering Harvard at age 16?
Sunshine Sally (Sally Strouth) was a presenter on a kids TV programme which aired on West Texas station KLBK-TV from 1976 to 1980. Crow grew up in Missouri, so most likely a reference to this character remembered from her teens? Peter Ustinov was British movie actor who also narrated a children's cartoon series called Dr Snuggles form the 1980's, so perhaps a reference in similar vein?
Quite stream of consciousness, but the obtuse lyrics are perhaps more meaningful than first appearances suggest? Memories of an acid trip, or attempt at John Lennonesque psychedelic lyrics?
Great song.