"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.
He was her man,she was his wife
And late one winter night,
He knelt by her
As she gave birth
But it wasn't his child,
It wasn't his child
Yet still he took him as his own
And as he watched him grow,
It brought him joy
But it wasn't his child
It wasn't his child
But like a father he was strong and kind
And I believe he did his best
It wasn't easy for him,
But he did all could,
His son was different from the rest
It wasn't his child,
It wasn't his child
And when the boy became a man
He took his father's hand
And soon the world
Would all know why
It wasn't his child,
It wasn't his child
But like a father he was strong and kind
And I believe he did his best
It wasn't easy for him,
But he did all could,
He grew up with his hands in wood
And he died with his hands in wood
He was god's child,
He was god's child
He was her man,
She was his wife
And late one night
He knelt by her
As she gave birth
Bit it wasn't his child,
It was god's child
And late one winter night,
He knelt by her
As she gave birth
But it wasn't his child,
It wasn't his child
Yet still he took him as his own
And as he watched him grow,
It brought him joy
But it wasn't his child
It wasn't his child
But like a father he was strong and kind
And I believe he did his best
It wasn't easy for him,
But he did all could,
His son was different from the rest
It wasn't his child,
It wasn't his child
And when the boy became a man
He took his father's hand
And soon the world
Would all know why
It wasn't his child,
It wasn't his child
But like a father he was strong and kind
And I believe he did his best
It wasn't easy for him,
But he did all could,
He grew up with his hands in wood
And he died with his hands in wood
He was god's child,
He was god's child
He was her man,
She was his wife
And late one night
He knelt by her
As she gave birth
Bit it wasn't his child,
It was god's child
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
This was my favorite Christmas song long before I ever became a mother. :)