"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.
Came up on a worried man, asked him if he had a light.
He reached on down, dug in his shoe, figured in his sock he might.
He asked if he could come and join, at what we was partakin' in.
I says,old soul if you got a match, you also got yourself a friend.
The smoke drew hard but laid in good, the neon gave us extra shine.
We passed around a flask of knockando, and a half litre bottle of wine.
The worried man dropped down to his knees, and let out with a somber groan.
He looked up to me and when I asked, he said,I'm just restin' my bones.
I looked down at him, and him up at me, then a smile rose above his chin.
He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me down, said, listen to me now my friend.
When I was your age I did it all, more than many men could do,
Now my possessions are the ones I wear on my back, and this lighter I keep in my shoe.
That's why I'm restin' my bones.
I'm restin' my bones for the times I fell, fell and hit myself on the ground.
Restin' my bones for the loneliness, of being the only genius around.
I'm restin' my bones for prosperity, in hopes that it'll do me some good.
I'm restin' bones from amphetamines, see they turned teeth to balsa wood.
I'm restin' bones for johnny cash, 'cause for me and mine he's wearin' black.
I'll be restin' my bones for Elvis, I seen him last week at the track.
If I'm restin' bones and you come along, just try and tippy toe on by.
'cCause when I'm restin' bones I hope to sleep, and maybe slip away and die.
He reached on down, dug in his shoe, figured in his sock he might.
He asked if he could come and join, at what we was partakin' in.
I says,old soul if you got a match, you also got yourself a friend.
The smoke drew hard but laid in good, the neon gave us extra shine.
We passed around a flask of knockando, and a half litre bottle of wine.
The worried man dropped down to his knees, and let out with a somber groan.
He looked up to me and when I asked, he said,I'm just restin' my bones.
I looked down at him, and him up at me, then a smile rose above his chin.
He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me down, said, listen to me now my friend.
When I was your age I did it all, more than many men could do,
Now my possessions are the ones I wear on my back, and this lighter I keep in my shoe.
That's why I'm restin' my bones.
I'm restin' my bones for the times I fell, fell and hit myself on the ground.
Restin' my bones for the loneliness, of being the only genius around.
I'm restin' my bones for prosperity, in hopes that it'll do me some good.
I'm restin' bones from amphetamines, see they turned teeth to balsa wood.
I'm restin' bones for johnny cash, 'cause for me and mine he's wearin' black.
I'll be restin' my bones for Elvis, I seen him last week at the track.
If I'm restin' bones and you come along, just try and tippy toe on by.
'cCause when I'm restin' bones I hope to sleep, and maybe slip away and die.
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I think that this song is either about Drugs or about a past experience that Les has had with this "worried man".
I dont' really know.
More specifically, it's seems to be about a man Les meet when they were smokin' and having a good time. During this time the man starts talking about his life's story of good times and bad times. He;s kind of a semi-mentor, cause he's seems to have been through it all.
It certainly isn't just about smoking weed, and if its about drugs at all its about taking it easy later in life after bingeing on drugs and such at a younger age. It kind of feels like he's talking about dying, or more likely stopping to think about his heroes and suchlike and paying them respect, with some nostalgia and learning from past mistakes too maybe.
Seems like a standard northbay occasion of sitting and smoking marijuana with a homeless gent who starts bumming out. Fuggin Slownoma.
It's got nothing to do with marijuana. Marijuana doesn't turn your teeth to balsa wood. He's smoking meth with a long time meth addict who's lost it all. It's practically stated explicitly.
The initial smoke isn't specified. It could be anything... Marijuana, tobacco, whatever. The lyric you're referring to is "I'm restin' bones from amphetamines,<br /> see they turned teeth to balsa wood " I doubt the man "resting his bones from amphetamines" is reflecting on smoking amphetamines while smoking them.
It's got nothing to do with marijuana. Marijuana doesn't turn your teeth to balsa wood. He's smoking meth with a long time meth addict who's lost it all. It's practically stated explicitly.
its about a young man might be les we dont know but he meets an older man who has been through it all before and is giving him advice,the old man is sore from all the abuse he gave his body over the years and thats why he is restin his bones.it definatly is nt about weed i think the amphetimine line gave that away and the rotten teeth and seeing elvis at the track as alot of old homeless men are crazy.it ends with him saying hopefully he ll pass away and die because hes had enough of the game he played for so many years
I think the main point of the song is that if you live too hard you either die young or end up broken down and used up like the homeless man the narrator is smoking with.
"When I was your age I did it all, more than many men could do now my possessions are the ones I wear on my back, and this lighter I keep in my shoe "
this has the same riff and beat as 2:19 by tom waits, which isn't surprising seeing as he helped write this album
smoking weed, duh