"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.
Muthafucker wanna be a clown of the town ah
Bow down get ready for another round
Turn me up, I'm fed up with your shit yeah
Fuck that shit I never wanna quit
I never wanna split this joint with my microphone
I got to turn psycho when I'm all alone
I got to take the zone like I'm Al Capone, yeah what now
Never leave your dog a bone
Life is a beautiful thing uh-huh
One mistake another pain that it brings
So love is like a song that you sing
They go together like a queen and a king
So where you gonna run huh
Where you gonna hide yeah
Every minute every second
I'll be fuckin' with your mind, break it down
Now you better think
Everything in this world will just make you sink
So call me a freak yeah tell me I'm sick
I don't give a fuck, suck my dick
I rock those who take blows
Everyone knows that life what
It's just the way that it goes
CHORUS:
Fuck you
And shake what momma gave you
Fuck you
You gotta do what you gotta do
(4x)
Falling away, I've been falling away
I want to say get the fuck out of my way
(2x)
Let it rip you, coz I'm coming through
I'm speaking all the words that are right for you
I die for you, coz I fight for you
But you never give a fuck so I lie to you
I'm the lyricist, so don't mess with this
Yo burn this place like an arsonist
I come like this, do I make you twist yo
Never talk peace when you can't resist
So let me take you to another level
Like a rebel advocated by thousands of devils
Kill this, kill that, fuck this, fuck that
Too many people dying motherfucker better stop that
I ignite like a fuse when I turn on the news
Too many fucked up motherfuckers try to use and abuse
Nobody wins, everybody will lose
Never turn your back, you gotta pay your dues
So what
(Chorus)
Bow down get ready for another round
Turn me up, I'm fed up with your shit yeah
Fuck that shit I never wanna quit
I never wanna split this joint with my microphone
I got to turn psycho when I'm all alone
I got to take the zone like I'm Al Capone, yeah what now
Never leave your dog a bone
Life is a beautiful thing uh-huh
One mistake another pain that it brings
So love is like a song that you sing
They go together like a queen and a king
So where you gonna run huh
Where you gonna hide yeah
Every minute every second
I'll be fuckin' with your mind, break it down
Now you better think
Everything in this world will just make you sink
So call me a freak yeah tell me I'm sick
I don't give a fuck, suck my dick
I rock those who take blows
Everyone knows that life what
It's just the way that it goes
CHORUS:
Fuck you
And shake what momma gave you
Fuck you
You gotta do what you gotta do
(4x)
Falling away, I've been falling away
I want to say get the fuck out of my way
(2x)
Let it rip you, coz I'm coming through
I'm speaking all the words that are right for you
I die for you, coz I fight for you
But you never give a fuck so I lie to you
I'm the lyricist, so don't mess with this
Yo burn this place like an arsonist
I come like this, do I make you twist yo
Never talk peace when you can't resist
So let me take you to another level
Like a rebel advocated by thousands of devils
Kill this, kill that, fuck this, fuck that
Too many people dying motherfucker better stop that
I ignite like a fuse when I turn on the news
Too many fucked up motherfuckers try to use and abuse
Nobody wins, everybody will lose
Never turn your back, you gotta pay your dues
So what
(Chorus)
Lyrics submitted by EdinLaden
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.