"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.
Mom
I know I let you down
And though you say the days are happy
Why is the power off, and I'm fucked up?
And mom, I know he's not around
But don't you place the blame on me
As you pour yourself another drink and
I guess we are who we are
Headlights shining in the dark night, I drive on
Maybe we took this too far
I went in headfirst
Never thinking about who what I said hurt, in what verse
My mom probably got it the worst of it
The brunt of it, but as stubborn as we are
Did I take it too far?
Cleaning out my closet and all them other songs
But regardless I don't hate you 'cause ma!
You're still beautiful to me, cause you're my mom
Though far be it for you to be calling, my house was Vietnam
Desert Storm and both of us put together
Can form an atomic bomb equivalent to chemical warfare
And forever we can drag this on and on
But, agree to disagree
That gift from me up under the Christmas tree don't mean shit to me
You're kicking me out? It's fifteen degrees and it's Christmas Eve (little prick just leave)
Ma, let me grab my fucking coat, anything to have each other's goats
Why we always at each other's throats? Especially when dad, he fucked us both
We're in the same fucking boat, you'd think that it'd make us close (nope)
Further away that drove us, but together headlights shine, a car full of belongings
Still got a ways to go, back to grandma's house it's straight up the road
And I was the man of the house, the oldest, so my shoulders carried the weight of the load
Then Nate got taken away by the state at eight years old, and
That's when I realized you were sick and it wasn't fixable or changeable
And to this day we remained estranged and I hate it though, but
I guess we are who we are
Headlights shining in the dark night I drive on
Maybe we took this too far
'Cause to this day we remain estranged and I hate it though
'Cause you ain't even get to witness your grand babies growth
But I'm sorry mama for 'Cleaning Out My Closet', at the time I was angry
Rightfully maybe so, never meant that far to take it though, 'cause
Now I know it's not your fault, and I'm not making jokes
That song I no longer play at shows and I cringe every time it's on the radio
And I think of Nathan being placed in a home
And all the medicine you fed us
And how I just wanted you to taste your own, but
Now the medications taken over and your mental state's deteriorating slow
And I'm way too old to cry, that shit's painful though
But ma, I forgive you, so does Nathan yo
All you did, all you said, you did your best to raise us both
Foster care, that cross you bare, few may be as heavy as yours
But I love you Debbie Mathers, oh what a tangled web we have, 'cause
One thing I never asked was where the fuck my deadbeat dad was
Fuck it I guess he had trouble keeping up with every address
But I'd have flipped every mattress, every rock and desert cactus
Own a collection of maps and followed my kids to the edge of the atlas
Someone ever moved them from me? That you could bet your asses
If I had to come down the chimney dressed as Santa, kidnap them
And although one has only met their grandma
Once you pulled up in our drive one night as we were leaving to get some hamburgers
Me, her and Nate, we introduced you, hugged you
And as you left I had this overwhelming sadness come over me
As we pulled off to go our separate paths, and
I saw your headlights as I looked back
And I'm mad I didn't get the chance to thank you for being my Mom and my Dad
So Mom, please accept this as a tribute I wrote this on the jet
I guess I had to get this off my chest, I hope I get the chance to lay it before I'm dead
The stewardess said to fasten my seat belt, I guess we're crashing
So if I'm not dreaming, I hope you get this message that I'll always love you from afar
'Cause you're my mama
I guess we are who we are
Headlights shining in the dark night I drive on
Maybe we took this too far
I want a new life
One without a cause
So I'm coming home tonight
Well no matter what the cost
And if the plane goes down
Or if the crew can't wake me up
Just know that I was alright
And I was not afraid to die
Oh even if there's songs to sing
My children will carry me
Just know that I'm alright
I was not afraid to die
Because I put my faith in my little girls
So I'll never say goodbye cruel world
Just know that I'm alright
I am not afraid to die
I guess we are who we are
Headlights shining in the dark night I drive on
Maybe we took this too far, I want a new life
I know I let you down
And though you say the days are happy
Why is the power off, and I'm fucked up?
And mom, I know he's not around
But don't you place the blame on me
As you pour yourself another drink and
I guess we are who we are
Headlights shining in the dark night, I drive on
Maybe we took this too far
I went in headfirst
Never thinking about who what I said hurt, in what verse
My mom probably got it the worst of it
The brunt of it, but as stubborn as we are
Did I take it too far?
Cleaning out my closet and all them other songs
But regardless I don't hate you 'cause ma!
You're still beautiful to me, cause you're my mom
Though far be it for you to be calling, my house was Vietnam
Desert Storm and both of us put together
Can form an atomic bomb equivalent to chemical warfare
And forever we can drag this on and on
But, agree to disagree
That gift from me up under the Christmas tree don't mean shit to me
You're kicking me out? It's fifteen degrees and it's Christmas Eve (little prick just leave)
Ma, let me grab my fucking coat, anything to have each other's goats
Why we always at each other's throats? Especially when dad, he fucked us both
We're in the same fucking boat, you'd think that it'd make us close (nope)
Further away that drove us, but together headlights shine, a car full of belongings
Still got a ways to go, back to grandma's house it's straight up the road
And I was the man of the house, the oldest, so my shoulders carried the weight of the load
Then Nate got taken away by the state at eight years old, and
That's when I realized you were sick and it wasn't fixable or changeable
And to this day we remained estranged and I hate it though, but
I guess we are who we are
Headlights shining in the dark night I drive on
Maybe we took this too far
'Cause to this day we remain estranged and I hate it though
'Cause you ain't even get to witness your grand babies growth
But I'm sorry mama for 'Cleaning Out My Closet', at the time I was angry
Rightfully maybe so, never meant that far to take it though, 'cause
Now I know it's not your fault, and I'm not making jokes
That song I no longer play at shows and I cringe every time it's on the radio
And I think of Nathan being placed in a home
And all the medicine you fed us
And how I just wanted you to taste your own, but
Now the medications taken over and your mental state's deteriorating slow
And I'm way too old to cry, that shit's painful though
But ma, I forgive you, so does Nathan yo
All you did, all you said, you did your best to raise us both
Foster care, that cross you bare, few may be as heavy as yours
But I love you Debbie Mathers, oh what a tangled web we have, 'cause
One thing I never asked was where the fuck my deadbeat dad was
Fuck it I guess he had trouble keeping up with every address
But I'd have flipped every mattress, every rock and desert cactus
Own a collection of maps and followed my kids to the edge of the atlas
Someone ever moved them from me? That you could bet your asses
If I had to come down the chimney dressed as Santa, kidnap them
And although one has only met their grandma
Once you pulled up in our drive one night as we were leaving to get some hamburgers
Me, her and Nate, we introduced you, hugged you
And as you left I had this overwhelming sadness come over me
As we pulled off to go our separate paths, and
I saw your headlights as I looked back
And I'm mad I didn't get the chance to thank you for being my Mom and my Dad
So Mom, please accept this as a tribute I wrote this on the jet
I guess I had to get this off my chest, I hope I get the chance to lay it before I'm dead
The stewardess said to fasten my seat belt, I guess we're crashing
So if I'm not dreaming, I hope you get this message that I'll always love you from afar
'Cause you're my mama
I guess we are who we are
Headlights shining in the dark night I drive on
Maybe we took this too far
I want a new life
One without a cause
So I'm coming home tonight
Well no matter what the cost
And if the plane goes down
Or if the crew can't wake me up
Just know that I was alright
And I was not afraid to die
Oh even if there's songs to sing
My children will carry me
Just know that I'm alright
I was not afraid to die
Because I put my faith in my little girls
So I'll never say goodbye cruel world
Just know that I'm alright
I am not afraid to die
I guess we are who we are
Headlights shining in the dark night I drive on
Maybe we took this too far, I want a new life
Lyrics submitted by FacuCba, edited by Nate Ruess, nasses321, kd35master, jayster7
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Eminem has really matured over the years. This is my fav from the new album.
@Pacey2008 brilliant opinion on the meaning of the lyrics. You think that's what the lyrics mean yeah? Spot on! SPOT ON!!! Get cancer inside your dickhole you retard. HURR DURR HER MY OPINYUN. It's called song meanings for a reason you tard. Get cancer in your dick hole, retard. I'm not kidding I legit hope you are dead. I'm 100% serious I hope you met you maker in the 10 1/2 years it took between our comments, shitbag
Eminem apologizes to his mom about the cruel things he has said in past songs. He just wants her to know that he still loves her, even though they are estranged. Nate Ruess seems to have overcome his fear of death that he sang about in the song Wait, Wait, Wait by The Format, Ruess's former band.
Im pretty sure that this song is an apology to his mom. He is telling her that he regrets writing badly about her in another song of his, Cleanin' out my closet (that he deleted from his track) where he called his mother a few names. So I'm coming home tonight
Well no matter what the cost ... And I was not afraid to die
this part was him technically saying that he wants to come home, no matter what the consequence is. All in all, this song is one of my favourites and I just learned all this information from the lyrics as well as some research. Just wanted to share it.
At first, I thought that his mom had died, and he was committing suicide... I did a little more looking and found out about it being an apology and tribute and I totally see it now. In both ways it made me tear up. A beautiful song, I am highly impressed by the way he was able to rap about such deep emotions and experiences. He is truly gifted. I hope to hear more like this, and the unnecessarily explicit songs he has don't really appeal to me.
I love this song, in my opinion it is the best track on one Em's best Albums to to date, but being a Nerd I have a problem with his second verse. Marshall, if you looked back when you and your mum were going in different directions, you would see the taillights, not the headlights
@Bendubz Not if he reversed off his drive and she reversed off before him.
I cried the first time I heard this song, it has such a beautiful meaning about Eminem apologizing to his mom. This song definitely marks when he started really maturing <3
@haiIey I still do every time I listen to it
my fav song frm MMLP2 :)
Eminem just got back from rehab and now he realizes that blood is thicker than water.
What do you mean just got back?!?!? That was back in 2009, pre Recovery and his collab with Adam Levine and 50 Cent
Nate's part in this song (especially verse 4) is from the unreleased fun. song, Jumping the Shark. The lyrics are here: songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859441172/ And here's video of the song live: youtube.com/watch The video is from almost 4 years ago, so that gives you a time frame for this song. Nate changed some of the lyrics for Headlights, but most of the content still remains the same.
My guess is this is just em just maturing and looking back at the things that happened in the past. Now no matter where his mom went wrong he wants to move past it. Sometimes as you grow older you have a little more clarity on why things panned out the way they did and I think this is just him telling his mom he still loves her despite everything that happened. Great song off one of his best albums in my opinion.