"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.
This is a song that I'm gonna rap about, and sing about
It's called that "He's Doing Time in Jail"
This is about this guy who slashed me in the face and back as I exited the 4 Cottage Grove bus
This is the dawn of a new era
So let me rap and sing about this song, as I exit the Cottage Grove bus
Once upon a time, on the 4 Cottage Grove bus
I felt like I was on the floor
I was talking to myself
Suddenly, a man in his 30s thought I was talking to him
Suddenly, he started yelling at me, talking vulgar
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
As he yelled at me vulgarly, I tried to tell him to shut his face
But he refused to do so!
When I was about to get up and get off the bus, that same guy whipped out a box cutter on me
He followed me to the exit door, chasing after me, as I got off the bus
That was at 4358 South Cottage Grove Avenue
He then slashed me in the face, and then in the back
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
When the ambulance came at the scene, I was rushed to the hospital
The police was there
That same guy who slashed me in the face and back was arrested and taken to jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail, Amen!
He's doing time in jail, Amen!
He's doing time in jail
Amen!
Amen!
It's called that "He's Doing Time in Jail"
This is about this guy who slashed me in the face and back as I exited the 4 Cottage Grove bus
This is the dawn of a new era
So let me rap and sing about this song, as I exit the Cottage Grove bus
Once upon a time, on the 4 Cottage Grove bus
I felt like I was on the floor
I was talking to myself
Suddenly, a man in his 30s thought I was talking to him
Suddenly, he started yelling at me, talking vulgar
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
As he yelled at me vulgarly, I tried to tell him to shut his face
But he refused to do so!
When I was about to get up and get off the bus, that same guy whipped out a box cutter on me
He followed me to the exit door, chasing after me, as I got off the bus
That was at 4358 South Cottage Grove Avenue
He then slashed me in the face, and then in the back
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
When the ambulance came at the scene, I was rushed to the hospital
The police was there
That same guy who slashed me in the face and back was arrested and taken to jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail
He's doing time in jail, Amen!
He's doing time in jail, Amen!
He's doing time in jail
Amen!
Amen!
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
He's Doing Time in Jail Lyrics as written by Dale Meiners Brendan Murphy
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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”
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.
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.