"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.
Happiness and sunbeams and cute little puppy dogs
These are the things that I've seen with my heart
Life is a happy game if you don't forget to smile
But every now and then, your face, it harbors a frown
Sadness is a barnacle, clinging to your bright boat
You won't let it sink your spirits if you'll only learn to float
We are all sea captains, sailing on life's rough seas
Come on you Magellans, come with me, I've got pie
Happiness pie
I guess you want to know what's in this pie.
Well... there's two cups love, a cup and a half of understanding,
A tablespoon of good old-fashioned compassion,
Sugar to taste,
And you know what? The ovens are our hearts.
Happiness pie...
See the sad man in the corner, he is gross and he is old
People steal his shoes and make him eat mold
His life won't be bad, if he does what he is told
He should be an alchemist, and turn his pain into gold... golden pie
Happy tailors, happy workers, happy farmers, happy girls
Happy widowers, happy freelance artists, happy welders, happy world
Happy drinkers, happy thinkers, happy musicians, happy beauticians
Happy mayors, happy pears, happy call girls, happy hula boys
(Happiness pie)
Pa, pa, pa, pa, pa, pie
(Happiness pie)
P-p-p-p-pa, pa, pa, pa, pie
Happiness pie
These are the things that I've seen with my heart
Life is a happy game if you don't forget to smile
But every now and then, your face, it harbors a frown
Sadness is a barnacle, clinging to your bright boat
You won't let it sink your spirits if you'll only learn to float
We are all sea captains, sailing on life's rough seas
Come on you Magellans, come with me, I've got pie
Happiness pie
I guess you want to know what's in this pie.
Well... there's two cups love, a cup and a half of understanding,
A tablespoon of good old-fashioned compassion,
Sugar to taste,
And you know what? The ovens are our hearts.
Happiness pie...
See the sad man in the corner, he is gross and he is old
People steal his shoes and make him eat mold
His life won't be bad, if he does what he is told
He should be an alchemist, and turn his pain into gold... golden pie
Happy tailors, happy workers, happy farmers, happy girls
Happy widowers, happy freelance artists, happy welders, happy world
Happy drinkers, happy thinkers, happy musicians, happy beauticians
Happy mayors, happy pears, happy call girls, happy hula boys
(Happiness pie)
Pa, pa, pa, pa, pa, pie
(Happiness pie)
P-p-p-p-pa, pa, pa, pa, pie
Happiness pie
Lyrics submitted by tosca, edited by supremetaco
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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Hey everyone...I'm sorry, this just came to my mind and I had to put it up. Well, this some means...happiness...to me...it's from the Kids' movie Brain Candy, and I didn't like it much, but this somg rocks.
Come on tosca. Brain Candy was a great movie. You have to watch it a few times to really appreciate the humor.
The full version of the song is;
Happiness and sunbeams and cute little puppy dogs / These are the things that I've seen with my heart / Life is a happy game if you don't forget to smile / But every now and then, your face, it harbors a frown.
Sadness is a barnacle clinging to your bright boat / You won't let it sink your spirits if you'll only learn to float. / We are all sea captains, sailing on life's rough seas / Come on you Magellan's, come with me / I've got Pie; / Happiness Pie.
I guess you want to know what's in this pie. / Well, there's two cups love, a cup and a half of understanding / A tablespoon of good old-fashioned compassion / Sugar to taste, and you know what.. / The ovens are our hearts.
Happiness Pie.
See the sad man in the corner, he is gross and he is old / People steal his shoes and make him eat mold. / His life won't be bad if he does what he is told. / He should be an alchemist, and turn his pain into gold. / Golden Pie.
Happy tailors, happy workers, happy farmers, happy girls, happy widowers, happy free-lance artists, happy welders, happy world happy drinkers, happy thinkers, happy musicians, happy beauticians, happy mayors, happy pears, happy call girls, happy hula boys.
Happiness Pie / Happiness Pie / Happiness Pie
And is awesome.