"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.
Do believe I'm gonna clap my hands,
Think I might tap my feet.
Put together a one-man band,
Take a walk on down the street.
Have a one-man parade, nobody needs to know.
Cause I'm right good of holding on to secrets
And don't believe they show.
All I want is a little dog
To be walking at my right hand.
Taking a breeze just as free as you please,
Maybe checking out occasional garbage cans.
Talking bout a one dog, y'all,
Nobody's friend but mine.
Hey now, you can say he's looking kind of funky, But I do believe he suits me just fine.
We were on the road again,
I was wondering what to do,
But Honalei, it was pouring down rain,
Baby she had the low down blues.
Hey now, I was looking for my walking cane
Trying on my highway shoes.
Thinking 'bout a one man parade, y'all,
Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, hey.
I'm right good at holding on,
Holding on, holding on.
Honalei, it's raining.
Honalei, sure nough, it's raining, listen here.
Honalei, it's raining,
Honalei, it's raining muddy waters.
Thinking 'bout a one man parade, y'all,
Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, hey.
I'm right good at holding on,
Holding on, holding on.
La la la la la...
Think I might tap my feet.
Put together a one-man band,
Take a walk on down the street.
Have a one-man parade, nobody needs to know.
Cause I'm right good of holding on to secrets
And don't believe they show.
All I want is a little dog
To be walking at my right hand.
Taking a breeze just as free as you please,
Maybe checking out occasional garbage cans.
Talking bout a one dog, y'all,
Nobody's friend but mine.
Hey now, you can say he's looking kind of funky, But I do believe he suits me just fine.
We were on the road again,
I was wondering what to do,
But Honalei, it was pouring down rain,
Baby she had the low down blues.
Hey now, I was looking for my walking cane
Trying on my highway shoes.
Thinking 'bout a one man parade, y'all,
Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, hey.
I'm right good at holding on,
Holding on, holding on.
Honalei, it's raining.
Honalei, sure nough, it's raining, listen here.
Honalei, it's raining,
Honalei, it's raining muddy waters.
Thinking 'bout a one man parade, y'all,
Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, hey.
I'm right good at holding on,
Holding on, holding on.
La la la la la...
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.