"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.
Every attempt to
Is filled with holes
Reads like a polygraph, I'm told
I'm not bitter anyway
Let it go
I never sleep still
Lest I forget
Tied down by handicaps instead
I'm not bitter anyway
But I didn't want it to turn out this way
Sing a long goodnight
Forfeit any fight
Refuse to rest assured
It comes with no reply
Hold on too tight
Hang on every word
If it all ended tonight
You know that I wouldn't mind
Back to the good old times
Before it won
If it all ended tonight
You know that I wouldn't mind
Back to the good old times
Before it won
Sing a long goodnight
Forfeit any fight
Refuse to rest assured
It comes with no reply
Hold on too tight
Hang on every word
Sing a long goodnight
Forfeit any fight
Refuse to rest assured
It comes with no reply
Hold on too tight
Hang on every word
Is filled with holes
Reads like a polygraph, I'm told
I'm not bitter anyway
Let it go
I never sleep still
Lest I forget
Tied down by handicaps instead
I'm not bitter anyway
But I didn't want it to turn out this way
Sing a long goodnight
Forfeit any fight
Refuse to rest assured
It comes with no reply
Hold on too tight
Hang on every word
If it all ended tonight
You know that I wouldn't mind
Back to the good old times
Before it won
If it all ended tonight
You know that I wouldn't mind
Back to the good old times
Before it won
Sing a long goodnight
Forfeit any fight
Refuse to rest assured
It comes with no reply
Hold on too tight
Hang on every word
Sing a long goodnight
Forfeit any fight
Refuse to rest assured
It comes with no reply
Hold on too tight
Hang on every word
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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”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
i love this sog like no other i think it's about some1 who wanted something really badly an finally got it and now they wish it never happened
the get up kids have such a way with lyrics...it amazes me. their writing style is soo unique, and this song is a very good example of it. i wish i could write like that.
i think this song is about trying to get through relationships without fights etc. He doesnt want to fight and would rather just let it go. I love it.
i can never tell what songs are supposed to be about (unless it's blantantly obvious...and even then...) but this song is so incredibly sad.
this song is the one song that i can truly dedicate to all my breakups... everytime it happens i just wish i could return to the times when it was all ok... maybe someday i can forget about this song... you should know what i mean...
What a greatness song. The only Geu Up Kids song I know. My favourite part is the If it all ended tonight, you know that I wouldn't mind.
This song is sad but it's so great. Good when you're sad 'cause it can depress you so much into happiness (that makes no sense, but someone's gotta know what I mean!) Overall, I love every part of this song. The "I'm not bitter anyway" and the "If it all ended tonight..."
i know what you mean about the so depressed your happy<br /> great song
trying to understand why it (dunno what) happened, and why you wanted it in the first place. saying goodbye is hard to do when it involves something you love. it almost seems like he is giving up...
this is my fav. song in the whole entire world. its been like that for about 2 years now. i never will get tired of it! the way i see it, it is so magnificently written, that it can relate to anything that any1 is going through.. relationships, depression, parents divorce, drugs, etc.... i personally think its about depression.....
every attempt to is filled with holes (every time he tries to think positively, something (holes) are in his way) reads like a polygraph im told (his depression has its ups and downs (bipolar))
i dont know, im not gonna go on with the whole song, but i think no matter what way you think of it, its self explanatory, this is the best song ever written!
kid emo is so right...this song is written so well that it can relate to any problem one might face. It's not just a breakup song or a depression song....it's everything and anything that has ever caused someone pain.