"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.
I heard a girl in a dress
Say her face was a mess
I heard there's no reason why
I heard that now's the time to buy
On planet earth
I'll probably stay
On planet earth
It's a place to live your life
Where pleasure follows pain
People go insane
Fly around in planes
Pray that it won't rain
Drive around in cars
Get drunk in local bars
Dream of being stars
Well I lived all my life on planet earth
I saw a girl lose all control
When she lost her new mink stole
I saw her try to catch a man
Things I couldn't understand
On planet earth
I'll probably stay
On planet earth
It's a place to live your life
Where pleasure follows pain
People go insane
Fly around in planes
Pray that it won't rain
Drive around in cars
Get drunk in local bars
Dream of being stars
Well I lived all my life on planet earth
I saw a man on a stage
Scream put me back in my cage
I saw him hang by his tie
I saw enough to make me cry
On planet earth
On planet earth
I lived all my life on planet earth
I lived all my life on planet earth
On planet earth
(repeat)
Say her face was a mess
I heard there's no reason why
I heard that now's the time to buy
On planet earth
I'll probably stay
On planet earth
It's a place to live your life
Where pleasure follows pain
People go insane
Fly around in planes
Pray that it won't rain
Drive around in cars
Get drunk in local bars
Dream of being stars
Well I lived all my life on planet earth
I saw a girl lose all control
When she lost her new mink stole
I saw her try to catch a man
Things I couldn't understand
On planet earth
I'll probably stay
On planet earth
It's a place to live your life
Where pleasure follows pain
People go insane
Fly around in planes
Pray that it won't rain
Drive around in cars
Get drunk in local bars
Dream of being stars
Well I lived all my life on planet earth
I saw a man on a stage
Scream put me back in my cage
I saw him hang by his tie
I saw enough to make me cry
On planet earth
On planet earth
I lived all my life on planet earth
I lived all my life on planet earth
On planet earth
(repeat)
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Planet Earth Lyrics as written by G.v. Casale
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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,
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.
A protest song about Neoliberalism. Being told "this is the time to buy", amid all the chaos, is the ultimate symbol of it. All the insanity when people lose their material things (new mink stole), when they find themselves out of the social loop (put me back in my cage) are more comments on the wrongness of the world. It's a place to live your life... if you want to live an unfulfilling life that is controlled in every aspect through consumerism.
@2oontown seems to be the most plausible explanation, as DEVO regularly critises exactly this aspect of society
A view of crazy, nonsensical human activity by a guy who finds it all alien but, alas, he is a human also and is stuck here...."On planet Earth-I'll probably stay." "On planet Earth-It's a place(regardless of the senselessness) to live your life."
I believe the song may be an advertisment or review for earth.
The chorus lists various activities you can do on planet earth using the imperative, which is usually associated with advertisements. They want to animate you to buy. The singer also gives his perspective of earth a lot. " Well I lived all my life on planet earth" as if he's trying to gain credibility. Add to that his other verses where he talks about some events he saw. Though they are not all positive. And the line "On planet earth i'll probably stay" could be explained by that idea. He may stay on planet earth, unless he finds a better product to buy.