"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.
Well everybody's back
And everybody's lookin good
And everybody there's a party on Congress
So everybody grab your cups
And all you girls wear your makeup
Cause this'll be a party to remember
And all the basement bong head boys
Are staring at the ceiling
Wondering, why am I feeling so dumb
And all the new recruits
Are flying in on parachutes
From college dorms
Cause they hear it's the bomb
And of a love is buzzing
The feelings are warm and fuzzy
From bonfires blazing
And ....of a revolution
Screaming on the stereo
Well everybody's back
Oh, and everbody's lookin good
And oh jeans with holes
And I got a stomp down come and bust us this time
Well everybody back
Keep your hands in check
Raise your glass to the sky for feeling alive
And we feel so fine
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something, lasting us through this
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something to make us feel alive
Kegs are pouring out the love
The sun won't let the moon shine on down
We've got hours, after hours oh
And all the boys wear brand new Abercrombie and Fitch
Cause their folks got em gift certificates for Christmas
And all the girls wear Victoria Secret on their panties
And the Dandy boys wanna know their secrets
And all the hippies flock to the sound
Of acid induced rock
And all the alumni
Sit sour and bitter
While sorority chicks throw up
With their cosmopolitan hair cuts
Thinking that this life just can't get better
And of a love is buzzing
The feelings are warm and fuzzy
From bonfires blazing
And EDUCATED COMEDY
Screaming on the stereo
Well everybody's back
Oh, and everybody's lookin good
And oh jeans with holes
And I got a stomp come and bust us this time
Well everybody back
Keep your hands in check
Raise your glass to the sky
I'm alive
And I feel so fine
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something, lasting us through this night
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something to make us feel alive
Kegs are pouring out the love
The sun won't let the moon shine on down
We've got hours, after hours oh
Freshman on the couch
One looks at the other's watch
I can't believe I've got class at 8 o'clock
And all the drunk boys
And all the drunk girls
Scurry up the stairs at once
Looking for an empty room to make love
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something, lasting us through this night
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something making us feel alive
Kegs are pouring out the love
The sun won't let the moon shine on down
We've got hours, after hours oh
Come on in
Kegs are pouring out the love
The cops won't bust us tonight
Because, we've got hours, after hours oh
Well everybody's back
And everybody's lookin good
And everybody there's a party on Congress
So everybody grab your cups
And all you girls wear your makeup
Cause this'll be a party to remember
And everybody's lookin good
And everybody there's a party on Congress
So everybody grab your cups
And all you girls wear your makeup
Cause this'll be a party to remember
And all the basement bong head boys
Are staring at the ceiling
Wondering, why am I feeling so dumb
And all the new recruits
Are flying in on parachutes
From college dorms
Cause they hear it's the bomb
And of a love is buzzing
The feelings are warm and fuzzy
From bonfires blazing
And ....of a revolution
Screaming on the stereo
Well everybody's back
Oh, and everbody's lookin good
And oh jeans with holes
And I got a stomp down come and bust us this time
Well everybody back
Keep your hands in check
Raise your glass to the sky for feeling alive
And we feel so fine
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something, lasting us through this
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something to make us feel alive
Kegs are pouring out the love
The sun won't let the moon shine on down
We've got hours, after hours oh
And all the boys wear brand new Abercrombie and Fitch
Cause their folks got em gift certificates for Christmas
And all the girls wear Victoria Secret on their panties
And the Dandy boys wanna know their secrets
And all the hippies flock to the sound
Of acid induced rock
And all the alumni
Sit sour and bitter
While sorority chicks throw up
With their cosmopolitan hair cuts
Thinking that this life just can't get better
And of a love is buzzing
The feelings are warm and fuzzy
From bonfires blazing
And EDUCATED COMEDY
Screaming on the stereo
Well everybody's back
Oh, and everybody's lookin good
And oh jeans with holes
And I got a stomp come and bust us this time
Well everybody back
Keep your hands in check
Raise your glass to the sky
I'm alive
And I feel so fine
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something, lasting us through this night
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something to make us feel alive
Kegs are pouring out the love
The sun won't let the moon shine on down
We've got hours, after hours oh
Freshman on the couch
One looks at the other's watch
I can't believe I've got class at 8 o'clock
And all the drunk boys
And all the drunk girls
Scurry up the stairs at once
Looking for an empty room to make love
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something, lasting us through this night
And we wanted, we wanted, we wanted, we wanted
Something making us feel alive
Kegs are pouring out the love
The sun won't let the moon shine on down
We've got hours, after hours oh
Come on in
Kegs are pouring out the love
The cops won't bust us tonight
Because, we've got hours, after hours oh
Well everybody's back
And everybody's lookin good
And everybody there's a party on Congress
So everybody grab your cups
And all you girls wear your makeup
Cause this'll be a party to remember
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
"And everybody there's a party on Congress" -- Where I live.