"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.
she's never alone, because she's scared of what she might say to herself always drinking in the backroom of the bar where everyone turns in a half-hearted grin she won't be afraid as long as that prescription keeps going through and all the happy pills make her look like cardboard cut out of someone, a use to learn from but on the phone, she's telling everyone, that there was a blue sky, she left behind and there's a place that no one knows about, away from integrity she writes a book in her head that nobody will read whatever you say, please don't talk about the time when she was young apparently that was a different person and so long ago it's strange to me, there's no history but there's a past and she's telling everyone it must be a garden, that wouldn't grow with roots of shame, too sensitive to blame to herself as we watch he drown, i can't save the queen without a kingdom or a crown somewhere in this lonely game of sympathy there is a selfish dream that makes me sick standing on the high wire while you're on the ground to you what is dangerous is safe and sound...you let me down
Lyrics submitted by punker87, edited by liniwa, Paramedico987
Let Me Down Lyrics as written by Vera Matson Elvis Presley
Lyrics © Raleigh Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
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Fast Car
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I always loved this song and thought it was about a sad, lost girl. But years later, after divorcing, i think this one goes out to my ex. She was kinda sad and lost, i gave her a lot of things, a house, a life, a dignity...but she started acting like a queen, lost all humbleness, got lazy and always made higher material plans(counting on my hardwork). Her past was a garden that wouldn't grow, with roots of shame. But, shit, i can't save a queen without a kingdom or a crown. She started to make me sick, i've stop caring about her, then she cheated on me. We separated and now she'll have half of my home, car and part of my wage. She had nothing when i met her, living in a small rented house with her mom and brother. She fucking LET ME DOWN. Thanks Tony, rest in peace. Your talent on translating melancholy into beautiful music is unreal.
i couldnt agrre more =) i think in some ways every one feels like this at one time or another. I also think in the song that the girl once was truely happy, but now relys on prescriptions to remind her of the days gone. i just love this song =)
One of no use's finest.
This song goes out to my ex.
I love this song... my favorite NUFAN song and my bro's favorite song i think... he has the lyrics up on his wall by his door.... TITE ASS SONG
i LOVE this song..it sorta reminds me of mylife too..altho im happy and stuff i hide alott like feeling loney..but hey..i loveitilovee this song
I totally agree with everyone else. This is an awesome song.
Okay for the first time i'm actually going to answer the question and say what this song means to me. Honestly, this song has hit home with me more than i think any other has...i feel so much like the "she" in this song that i almost feel unnerved listening to it. Okay. So there's this girl, who is unhappy and has come to rely on anti-depressants just to keep her sane, and is almost on a self-sabotaging track; basically she's lost all hope. Our gallant speaker is close to the girl, close enough to know everything about her and to want to help her but is constantly kept at arm's reach, yada yada. The interesting thing is the last part of the song...the lines "lonely game of sympathy" and "selfish dream" make me think that the guy has just given up on the girl, that she has done one bad thing too many to herself? and perhaps broken a promise to him in that way...and he is starting to see through her front? i don't know....that's what i see...probably wrong, but in any event this song means a lot to me.
The first time i heard this song I was hooked...thanx to NotYerSaveYer...hehe punky! Man, the beat and words got to me and I've even tried to play it on the piano...haha I'm on "She's never alone, coz she's scared of what she might say to herself..."...it's gonna take a while but yeah it's worth it coz this song rox!
I'm with pureOwTkAsTemotion on this one...I was totally hooked on this song once I picked up Fat Music Vol. 5 (pick it up, it's a good compilation of Fat Wreck Chord bands); it's the first track on the cd, and instantly, I was so hooked that I'd play it on repeat in my car, in my room, anywhere for that matter. It's such a sad song too...I like sad songs cuz I can relate, and it enables me to cry ever so much more on the inside like I usually do to begin with. NUFAN's got to be one of the most profoundly thinking and writing bands, punk and any genre, to date and for some time now. This song and "On the Outside" are my top two NUFAN songs...but it's really hard to say that any of their songs are better than the other! To the OwTkAsT girl...I'll teach you the song cuz I play it all the time in my room hehe...so, just remind me to show it to you when I see you again. I'm going to finish my takehome final now.
Chick Hearn (1916-2002) We'll miss you, Chick. "No harm, no foul."