"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.
If I may be so bold that I just say something
Come and make me my day
The clouds around your soul
Don't gather there for nothing
But I can chase them all away
Why d'you need a reason for to feel happy?
Or shining for the rest of the world
Give me just a smile and would you make it snappy
Get your shit together girl
You've got a feeling lost inside
It just won't let you go
Your life is sneaking up behind
It just won't let you go
No, it just won't let you go
Is what I'm trying to say
Is would you maybe
Come dancin' with me?
'Cause to me it doesn't matter
If your hopes and dreams are shattered
When you say something
You make me believe
In a girl who wears a dirty shirt
She knows exactly what she's worth
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
But I can see, I can see
If you ever find yourself inside a bubble
You gotta make your own way home
You can call me anytime you're seein' double
Now you know you're not alone
You've got a feeling lost inside
It just won't let you go (No, it just won't let you go)
Your life is sneaking up behind
It just won't let you go (No, it just won't let you go)
No, it just won't let you go (No, it just won't let you)
Is what I'm trying to say
Is would you maybe
Come dancin' with me?
'Cause to me it doesn't matter
If your hopes and dreams are shattered
When you say something
You make me believe
In a girl who wears a dirty shirt
She knows exactly what she's worth
Maybe she'll come dancin' with me
'Cause to me it doesn't matter
If her hopes and dreams are shattered
When she says something
She'll make me believe
In a girl who wears a dirty shirt
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
And now I see
And now I see
And now I see (knows exactly what she's worth to me)
And now I see
And now I see
And now I see
And now I see (knows exactly what she's worth to me)
And now I see
And now I see
And now I see
Come and make me my day
The clouds around your soul
Don't gather there for nothing
But I can chase them all away
Why d'you need a reason for to feel happy?
Or shining for the rest of the world
Give me just a smile and would you make it snappy
Get your shit together girl
You've got a feeling lost inside
It just won't let you go
Your life is sneaking up behind
It just won't let you go
No, it just won't let you go
Is what I'm trying to say
Is would you maybe
Come dancin' with me?
'Cause to me it doesn't matter
If your hopes and dreams are shattered
When you say something
You make me believe
In a girl who wears a dirty shirt
She knows exactly what she's worth
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
But I can see, I can see
If you ever find yourself inside a bubble
You gotta make your own way home
You can call me anytime you're seein' double
Now you know you're not alone
You've got a feeling lost inside
It just won't let you go (No, it just won't let you go)
Your life is sneaking up behind
It just won't let you go (No, it just won't let you go)
No, it just won't let you go (No, it just won't let you)
Is what I'm trying to say
Is would you maybe
Come dancin' with me?
'Cause to me it doesn't matter
If your hopes and dreams are shattered
When you say something
You make me believe
In a girl who wears a dirty shirt
She knows exactly what she's worth
Maybe she'll come dancin' with me
'Cause to me it doesn't matter
If her hopes and dreams are shattered
When she says something
She'll make me believe
In a girl who wears a dirty shirt
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
She knows exactly what she's worth to me
And now I see
And now I see
And now I see (knows exactly what she's worth to me)
And now I see
And now I see
And now I see
And now I see (knows exactly what she's worth to me)
And now I see
And now I see
And now I see
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
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
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.
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.
Liam&Noel say..The Girl in the Dirty Shirt- "Meg is the girl in the dirty shirt. We were doing a gig in Brighton just before me and Meg were going out. She was at the hotel ironing a dirty shirt because she hadn´t brought enough clothes with her. I know it sounds a bit soft. Liam will read this and say, `You wanker!´ becuase he thinks all the songs are about him. He even thinks Wonderwall is about him."
I've found this song a bit of a disappointment. I still love it but i was kinda hoping that the dirty shirt was somehow metaphorical.
its about a girl in a dirty shirt
I totally agree with Nymphetamineaddict. I was hoping for "dirty shirt" to be a metaphor as well, but as with any song, even though the artist intended for it to be about something specific, we can still relate to the song in our own way. In whatever way we get the most out of the song. :) Love this song, and all of Be Here Now.
Fucking Student..
God Be Here Now is sure a great album. Hey oasis arent only good with the hit single !! Usually their b sides are even better !! This is one of the proof !!!!! Start posting to their other song peeps !!
Nah, what mat2710 said is on the website... he speaks truth.
heheheh, gd song.... lyrically and melodically
GREAT song.
And as mat2710 wrote, it's about Meg.
What ever you say about, this will always be a great song. Meg is one lucky girl, then!
Also, being really sad here, the lyrics that have been put up are gramatically very wrong. You're is what YOU'RE looking for. (you are seeing double)