"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.
Walking away
It's not the same as running
Is it to you now
That you've run this in the ground
And you say, "Take this,
This medicine is just what you deserve.
Swallow, choke, and die."
And this bitter pill is leaving you with such an angry mouth
One that's void of all discretion, such an awful tearing sound
With it's measure only equalled by the power of my stare
Glaring over you and over you this feeling of despair is never wearing out
It's wearing off
And it's leaving you
With such a heavy heart
And a head to match
The bottle is waiting
The cap is twisted begging to be used
And so are you
And this bitter pill is leaving you with such an angry mouth
One that's void of all discretion, such an awful tearing sound
With it's measure only equalled by the power of my stare
Glaring over you and over you this feeling of despair is never wearing out
Wearing out
Wearing out
Wearing out
Wearing out
Wearing out
It's not the same as running
Is it to you now
That you've run this in the ground
And you say, "Take this,
This medicine is just what you deserve.
Swallow, choke, and die."
And this bitter pill is leaving you with such an angry mouth
One that's void of all discretion, such an awful tearing sound
With it's measure only equalled by the power of my stare
Glaring over you and over you this feeling of despair is never wearing out
It's wearing off
And it's leaving you
With such a heavy heart
And a head to match
The bottle is waiting
The cap is twisted begging to be used
And so are you
And this bitter pill is leaving you with such an angry mouth
One that's void of all discretion, such an awful tearing sound
With it's measure only equalled by the power of my stare
Glaring over you and over you this feeling of despair is never wearing out
Wearing out
Wearing out
Wearing out
Wearing out
Wearing out
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
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.
ahhh. speaking of listening to it on repeat, this will be my 7th time for right now listening. ohhhh it just hits me. you can actually FEEL his pain and it like tears at me inside when i hear it. i want to just cry with chris cause you can completely hear his pain in the ending....i just imagine how he feels and how personal that was to him....lordie begordie.
on a side note, chris used to babysit my boyfriend when he was a baby and his mom is best friends with my boyfriends mom. yes chris was like, 9 at the time, but hey it's cute all the same :)