"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 when you open that bottle of wine
You open a can of worms every time
Now you don't stop, that ain't true
Never said a word, I never had to
It was my attitude
That you thought was rude
It was my attitude
Old habits are hard to break
And I don't know how much I can take
What I think is on the tip
Of my tongue so I let it slip
It was my attitude
That you thought was rude
It was my attitude
That you thought was rude
Remember sitting back in school
I held my tongue
Until it turned blue
They said I had an attitude
You just failed my test
Cause I know you be the best
So wipe me off as you conclude
A POV is what I can't use
I got an attitude
I got an attitude
Said I had an attitude
Said I had an attitude
Said I had an attitude
An attitude
Said I had an attitude
You open a can of worms every time
Now you don't stop, that ain't true
Never said a word, I never had to
It was my attitude
That you thought was rude
It was my attitude
Old habits are hard to break
And I don't know how much I can take
What I think is on the tip
Of my tongue so I let it slip
It was my attitude
That you thought was rude
It was my attitude
That you thought was rude
Remember sitting back in school
I held my tongue
Until it turned blue
They said I had an attitude
You just failed my test
Cause I know you be the best
So wipe me off as you conclude
A POV is what I can't use
I got an attitude
I got an attitude
Said I had an attitude
Said I had an attitude
Said I had an attitude
An attitude
Said I had an attitude
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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
This song happened to me a couple nights ago.