"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 hear a wind
Whistling air
Whispering
In my ear
Boy Mercury shooting through every degree
Oh girl dancing down those dirty and dusty trails
Take it hip to hip, rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without anything but the love we feel
Skip the airstrip to the sunset, yeah
Ride the arrow to the target, one
Take it hip to hip, rock it through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without anything but the love we feel
Fly the great big sky
See the great big sea
Kick through continents
Busting boundaries
Take it hip to hip, rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without anything but the love we feel
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Whistling air
Whispering
In my ear
Boy Mercury shooting through every degree
Oh girl dancing down those dirty and dusty trails
Take it hip to hip, rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without anything but the love we feel
Skip the airstrip to the sunset, yeah
Ride the arrow to the target, one
Take it hip to hip, rock it through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without anything but the love we feel
Fly the great big sky
See the great big sea
Kick through continents
Busting boundaries
Take it hip to hip, rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without anything but the love we feel
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
Take it hip to hip
Rocket through the wilderness
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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”
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.
as usual, clever, capricious fun probably best not interpreted too deeply. Most of their songs only seem to be about life and joy; frequently sexual joy.
case in point:
Oh, I stop here: you can find the rest, :) (apologies in advance for analyzing such an exuberant, unapologetic song!) -Phase
And "Ride the Arrow to the Target," in case anyone was missing the subtleties! ;)<br />
The B-52s specialize in innuendo.
I love this song. The video is rife with innuendo.
Kate Pierson has that high soprano voice,it sounds like she's almost screaming like the back up singers for Lynard Skynard's "Sweet Home Alabama"...my ears is bleeding.
Yes very shrill...
I\'m new to this website. I\'m surprised this page has the authorship wrong for this song.\n\n"Our friend Robert Waldrop wrote these lyrics and Keith wrote the music for the track -Cindy and I jammed with the lyrics and magic happened - Kate"[twitter.com/theb52s/status/1266450923238256641](http://nhttps://twitter.com/theb52s/status/1266450923238256641?lang=en)
There's nothing sexual here at all. It's about roaming around the world. Not every song that exists is about sex or drugs.
Aww, what a cute song. It's one of those songs that just makes you so happy when you hear it.
damn
what a voice that chick had.....amazing
great song too
*has<br /> <br /> Kate and Cindy both have amazing voices which are so unique to them.
warmPhase is dead on. Nice work. It should come as no surprise that the B-52's were a very sexually oriented band, but always done in a way that was subtle enough to slip past the censors but speak directly to those with a welcoming ear. The band has a history of lyrics with double entendre'd sexual innuendo.
I love the song Roam, and not just for its incredible beat, exceptional vocals, and catchy tune. What is meant to seem like an innocent song about vacations is actually a very dirty one about stretching one's erotic permissiveness to the outer boundaries. I picked up on it the very first time I heard and had to smile thinking how many clueless Moms and Dads there are with teeny bopper kids bopping to it!
Actually, one of the main lines in the song "around the world" is not that all that subliminal to those that know the naughty meaning to that phrase. For fear of being censored here, let's just say it involves the mouth of one partner and EVERY part of the nether regions of the other partner.
The fact that it is cute and "makes you happy" when you hear it is testimony to the B-52's view that sex IS fun and the ultimate trip and adventure.
tdnsexy1 is right. <br /> the word is "anilingus"<br /> great song from a daring band.<br /> Cindy Williams is one of the voices.<br /> Listen to her on "give me back my man" for a real treat !
Actually "around the world" means being licked all over by someone. What you've described is "halfway around the world", which focusses on the nether regions.
Oh - so that's what it all means, huh?<br /> You people brought it down to the gutter really fast.<br /> Go ahead and dwell in the cesspool if that's what gets you off - but PLEASE don't define an inspiring song according to your own merely carnal limits.<br /> <br /> And now, pray - DO tell...<br /> Is "Rock Lobster" really all about deep-sea bestiality?
@tdnsexy1 Yep. You and Warm phase have hit the proverbial nail right on the nose. Or guess it's more like Riding the arrow to the Target, just like the song says. Without wings. Without wheels. Love this song!
And NomadMonad, as for Rock Lobster..."Motion in the Ocean...he was in a jam..was in a giant clam!!" Enough said.
I remember this being the theme music to the Peace Corps. back in the day. Trying to get us dumbasses to join. What they don't tell ya is how many women are assaulted sexually and killed in the countries that you pay your own way to... :)
The Peace Corps is a wonderful organization and I have had the priviledge of meeting quite a few former members. Here is the 2009 Peace Corps report on crime (Official): "Of the more serious crimes reported, 15 rapes/attempted rapes, 2 kidnappings and 1 death by homicide. From 2008 to 2009, the number and rate of rapes/attempted rapes decrease noticeably, a deviation from the previous nine years in which the rate remained essentially unchanged. Major sexual assaults increased for the second year, although the rate is still lower than the peak in 2001. The rate of other sexual assaults decreased slightly, though not enough to reverse the steady but gradual increase seen since 2000. Incidents of rape in 2009 were 0.35% (“Rape” in the Peace Crops is defined as involving the mouth on body parts.) Major sexual assaults in 2009 were 1.75%." According to the stats, the majority of sexual crimes took place in the victim's residence and when alcohol was involved (probably similar to what occurs in the states, where the rates of rape/sexual assault are much higher!) Therefore, it is essentially safer to be a woman working in the Peace Corps than it is to be a woman living in any U.S. state. <br />