"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.
I want to write something beautiful,
Something so beautiful
That I just can't sing it
Without getting that incredible feeling,
The one that just overwhelms my senses.
Because it's the only thing I have,
It's the only thing that makes my life worthwhile.
I know there aren't too many people
Who allow themselves to say what they feel,
So I was watching your eyes,
In case they just might say something.
I want to think someone's beautiful,
That they're so beautiful it's a thrill to be near them.
Fill my stomach with butterflies,
Have me floating on air,
Bring something out of me I didn't know was there.
But it's such a torturous thing
That I am not excited by anyone.
I know there aren't too many people
Who allow themselves to say what they feel,
So I was watching your eyes,
In case they just might say something.
Something so beautiful
That I just can't sing it
Without getting that incredible feeling,
The one that just overwhelms my senses.
Because it's the only thing I have,
It's the only thing that makes my life worthwhile.
I know there aren't too many people
Who allow themselves to say what they feel,
So I was watching your eyes,
In case they just might say something.
I want to think someone's beautiful,
That they're so beautiful it's a thrill to be near them.
Fill my stomach with butterflies,
Have me floating on air,
Bring something out of me I didn't know was there.
But it's such a torturous thing
That I am not excited by anyone.
I know there aren't too many people
Who allow themselves to say what they feel,
So I was watching your eyes,
In case they just might say something.
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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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
It means to me that it rocks. :) it's cute
i am deeply in love with the first paragraph of the song.. it sounds so honest and it really shows in his work that he is really dedicate, and i guess almost all independent artists can relate to that so lovely
"So I was watching your eyes, In case they just might say something."
That's my favorite lyrics in this song. So beautiful.
this song is really sad to me. it seems like either he is watching someone and hoping that they love him or he feels numb and disconnected from life and he wants to feel anything, good or bad
I'm head over heels in love with this song. I'm pretty sure it's "they just might say something real." But, anway.
I want to write something beautiful Something so beautiful that I just can't sing it Without getting that incredible feeling The one that just overwhelms my senses Because it's the only thing I have It's the only thing that makes my life worthwhile
I know there aren't too many people Who allow themselves to say what they feel So I was watching your eyes In case they just might say something (real)
I want to think someone's beautiful That they're so beautiful it's a thrill to be near them Fill my stomach with butterflies, have me floating on air Bring something out of me I didn't know was there But it's such a torturous thing That I am not excited by anyone
I know there aren't too many people Who allow themselves to say what they feel So I was watching your eyes In case they just might say something (real)
I also think that eyes represent souls. Because obviously you can't watch someone's soul, but a lot of people feel that you can just look into someone's eyes and know everything you need to about them. Anyway, though, I guess I pointed out some obvious stuff, but this song is incredible, and needed another comment. :3
i 2nd kay-arla 's comment.
this song is sweet
what a lovely song :o)
Wow great song :D Fill my stomach with butterrflies
this song really means a lot to me