"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.
This is a song about a very big, strong, black, sexy southern baptist minister
Who thinks he's got his program all together, until he meets a lady who lets him know
That he ain't got it all together, his name is reverend dr. lee
Reverend lee, he went to the water, and he prayed to the lord
About old satan's daughter, it seems in a dream, child, while he lay sleeping
She climbed in his bed, starts rubbing and weeping, ah, she was twisting and turning, hmm
She was begging and pleading, loving and burning, panting, breathing, ooh, ah, ah
Reverend lee, she said, lord knows that I love you child, but I would not even, no, no,
Place God above you, well reverend lee, he lifted his arms high
Said heavenly father, take me home to the sky, he said lord please don't test me
Not down where she touched me, my mind is so hazy
And you know my body is hungry, oh yeah, and then God rolled the thunder
And he hurled the lightening uh, oh, he seemed to be angry
Well it really was frightening, yes he was, oh the thunder grew louder
Darkened conditions, and just then a voice said, God cannot be petitioned
Just then the devil, oh he emerged from the water, and he said in that dry voice
Your God will not barter, reverend lee, he went screaming from the water
And he was hotly pursued by old satan's daughter
And she said, she said reverend, ooh, reverend, reverend lee
She said reverend lee, do it to me, she said, she said, uh, reverend lee
(reverend, reverend, reverend, reverend lee), I don't want nobody else to do it
Do it but you, do it, do it, yeah you, do it, do it to me
Who thinks he's got his program all together, until he meets a lady who lets him know
That he ain't got it all together, his name is reverend dr. lee
Reverend lee, he went to the water, and he prayed to the lord
About old satan's daughter, it seems in a dream, child, while he lay sleeping
She climbed in his bed, starts rubbing and weeping, ah, she was twisting and turning, hmm
She was begging and pleading, loving and burning, panting, breathing, ooh, ah, ah
Reverend lee, she said, lord knows that I love you child, but I would not even, no, no,
Place God above you, well reverend lee, he lifted his arms high
Said heavenly father, take me home to the sky, he said lord please don't test me
Not down where she touched me, my mind is so hazy
And you know my body is hungry, oh yeah, and then God rolled the thunder
And he hurled the lightening uh, oh, he seemed to be angry
Well it really was frightening, yes he was, oh the thunder grew louder
Darkened conditions, and just then a voice said, God cannot be petitioned
Just then the devil, oh he emerged from the water, and he said in that dry voice
Your God will not barter, reverend lee, he went screaming from the water
And he was hotly pursued by old satan's daughter
And she said, she said reverend, ooh, reverend, reverend lee
She said reverend lee, do it to me, she said, she said, uh, reverend lee
(reverend, reverend, reverend, reverend lee), I don't want nobody else to do it
Do it but you, do it, do it, yeah you, do it, do it to me
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.