"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.
Chill
Light on my side as my ego becomes
A funky child with some words on my tongue
Be like intake of breath and my mouth gets loose
So while I scatter my spit, I dream of juice
Have you ever made out in dark hallways?
Displayed a kiss that made your day?
Or, say, play a track from your record collection
It's your mix, congratulations
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now (come back in)
I bet you light up when we start the show
Follow me now, very close because I told you so
You know we glow because we throw sun rays
Yeah, we be freaky and we wanna stay, uh
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
Lightning strikes, yo, we be in that violent force of light
Guaranteed to turn it out as bad as Dolemite
Because we're dope, kid, change like a chameleon
And the channel whenever the whack show "Real World" is on
You know we dazzle like ghetto box boomin' battles
Rattle inside your head, feel redeemed like cola bottles
Fall in love with your teachers, on the wax we are self made
Check the technique, 311 in L.A.
Changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
Keep my feet on the ground
Keep my head in the clouds
Electrified by the sound
It comes from the down, and
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
Light on my side as my ego becomes
A funky child with some words on my tongue
Be like intake of breath and my mouth gets loose
So while I scatter my spit, I dream of juice
Have you ever made out in dark hallways?
Displayed a kiss that made your day?
Or, say, play a track from your record collection
It's your mix, congratulations
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now (come back in)
I bet you light up when we start the show
Follow me now, very close because I told you so
You know we glow because we throw sun rays
Yeah, we be freaky and we wanna stay, uh
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
Lightning strikes, yo, we be in that violent force of light
Guaranteed to turn it out as bad as Dolemite
Because we're dope, kid, change like a chameleon
And the channel whenever the whack show "Real World" is on
You know we dazzle like ghetto box boomin' battles
Rattle inside your head, feel redeemed like cola bottles
Fall in love with your teachers, on the wax we are self made
Check the technique, 311 in L.A.
Changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
Keep my feet on the ground
Keep my head in the clouds
Electrified by the sound
It comes from the down, and
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
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I think everyone has positive intentions in their interpretations... but many are thinking to hard. I recently saw on TV and this guy talking about spirituality and one thing he was talking about was "The down". The part keep my head on the ground keep my head in the clouds hes saying you can be down to earth and still get high, it doesn't make you a moron. Then he says "comes from the down" and if you watch the music video they're meditating (which i do often) with that huge sumo looking guy. So i believe hes saying most nuances come from the down, which may be a deep state of meditation. I wish i could see that spirituality show again to listen more about "the down". With that said, the comments about fans being down is all legitimate, oh and also on the transitor CD cover those metal things are dudes sitting in a meditative position. Something to think about i guess. Stay positive
This was the very first song that got me hooked. This song i think, is one of there best. its one of my favorite rock alternative song, and 311 needs to be played a lot more on the radio!!
this song is 311 thanking all there loyal fans
get down with tha 311 style cuz they rock it, and they thank u.
they're basically thanking the fans that have been true and stayed with them throughout their career.
It's definitely a song for the fans. Nothing compares to hearing this song live...
i agree with all of you. great song, great band, if you've never seen them live you really have no idea what 311 is all about.
well bwebb, presonallyl, i dont think 311 needs to be played on the radio anmore than what they already are, because they already have a HUGE AND SOLID fanbase... "Friendly to the radio, all the shit is corn" they just dotn belong on hte radio...so just pop in the cd and let it play...:):)
I disagree, ate_16am. I think 311 should get as much radio play as they can. With all the negativity in music these days, I think it'd be great for as many people to hear them as possible. Radio play isn't gonna change my opinion of them..and I dont think it'll change the opinions of any other hardcore 311 fans. 311 definitely deserve the attention.
BAH! how dare u disagree! lol j/k...but what i meant, is that 311 has such a fanbase that they can get more fans grassroots style. BUT if we are talking about radio in general and the type of music on the radio, 311 should definately be played more to help "dilute the system"