"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.
And we say back way to all the trouble makers
Better fix up your brains because you are the biggest fakers
Come in the place better know who you are
Self defence is no offence
The scales of justice are weighed down on one side
Freemasons on the case you know you're gonna get a rough ride
Hold tight even if you know your rights
It's just a piece of paper unless you're prepared to fight
For ten years one hell of a long time
To rot in a cell when you've committed no crime
Another innocent man forced to carry the can
Free Satpal Ram
Free Satpal Ram
Another innocent man
Whose word against who?
Whose word against who?
The degenerate crew
Out on the town thought they had something to prove
Self defence - only offence - had to protect himself from all the murdering fools
Cutting remarks on account of his race
A plate to his chest and a glass to his face
An Asian fights back can't afford to be meek
With your back against the wall you can't turn the other cheek
And its back way to all the trouble makers
Better fix up your brain because you're the biggest fakers
Come in the place better know who you are
Free Satpal Ram
Another innocent man
Birmingham six
Bridgewater four
Crown prosecution totting up the score
Kings Cross two
Guildford four
Winston Silcott - man how many more ?
Satpal attacked in a restaurant by racists
Now the brother's been locked up on a life time basis
Convicted of murder but what's never mentioned
Self defence was his only intention
ADF once again taking to the stand
Witness the jailing of an innocent man
Kicking up a fuss because it could happen to us
Time to join in the fight back
Because enough is enough
And it's back way to all the trouble makers
Better fix up your brains because you're the biggest fakers
Come in the place better know who you are
Free Satpal Ram
Better fix up your brains because you are the biggest fakers
Come in the place better know who you are
Self defence is no offence
The scales of justice are weighed down on one side
Freemasons on the case you know you're gonna get a rough ride
Hold tight even if you know your rights
It's just a piece of paper unless you're prepared to fight
For ten years one hell of a long time
To rot in a cell when you've committed no crime
Another innocent man forced to carry the can
Free Satpal Ram
Free Satpal Ram
Another innocent man
Whose word against who?
Whose word against who?
The degenerate crew
Out on the town thought they had something to prove
Self defence - only offence - had to protect himself from all the murdering fools
Cutting remarks on account of his race
A plate to his chest and a glass to his face
An Asian fights back can't afford to be meek
With your back against the wall you can't turn the other cheek
And its back way to all the trouble makers
Better fix up your brain because you're the biggest fakers
Come in the place better know who you are
Free Satpal Ram
Another innocent man
Birmingham six
Bridgewater four
Crown prosecution totting up the score
Kings Cross two
Guildford four
Winston Silcott - man how many more ?
Satpal attacked in a restaurant by racists
Now the brother's been locked up on a life time basis
Convicted of murder but what's never mentioned
Self defence was his only intention
ADF once again taking to the stand
Witness the jailing of an innocent man
Kicking up a fuss because it could happen to us
Time to join in the fight back
Because enough is enough
And it's back way to all the trouble makers
Better fix up your brains because you're the biggest fakers
Come in the place better know who you are
Free Satpal Ram
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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."
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.
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.
Awesome song. And I learned something too. Love Asian Dub Foundation.