"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.
It's true
You're lazy
You're tired
And crazy
And you know there's something more
But you can't give it a name
Someone's selling all your heroes
And they seem so tame
You heard it all before
And said your case was tragic
You heard it all before
And now they say it's magic
You need
Time off
For good
Behavior
And you know there's something else
But you can't give a name
Someone's selling all your heroes
And it seems such a shame
You heard it all before
You said your case was tragic
You heard it all before
And now they say it's magic
You heard it all before
They said your case was tragic
You heard it all before
And now they say it's magic
You're lazy
You're tired
And crazy
And you know there's something more
But you can't give it a name
Someone's selling all your heroes
And they seem so tame
You heard it all before
And said your case was tragic
You heard it all before
And now they say it's magic
You need
Time off
For good
Behavior
And you know there's something else
But you can't give a name
Someone's selling all your heroes
And it seems such a shame
You heard it all before
You said your case was tragic
You heard it all before
And now they say it's magic
You heard it all before
They said your case was tragic
You heard it all before
And now they say it's magic
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Well here goes. I think it's about someone who has particular idea of how they want to live their life that diverges from what society considers conventional and pragmatic. Initially this person isn't where they want to be, perhaps stuck. Those who live conventional lives are now perceiving this person as "lazy" and "crazy" for still pursuing their goals. Trying to drag them down, however they remain hopeful because deep inside they "know there's something more" ahead of them. As this person has been stuck, they've gotten older and watched their idols sellout. Which not only could sew doubt but serves as another sticking point that conventional people use against them, hence "they said your case was tragic". But perseverance pays off, "now, they say it's magic". This person made it to where they want to be to the astonishment of the naysayers. They need "time off for good behavior" because in the face of these people attempting to drag them down they remained composed and civil. It's parable of perseverance, stay true to yourself and your path even when you feel like you're lost in space, there's more to come for you! ;)
It's sad that no one else has commented this song, but I'm glad to take a first shot at it's meaning. I believe that it's a song about a criminal thinking in his jail cell (as implied by the second verse). He agrees that he should be locked away in the first verse, but he can't quite put a finger on what's been bothering him so much: everyone's turned against him... all of his heroes (whether they be comic book superheroes or admired celebrities) speak out against the actions he commited, and the ones "selling his heroes" are the people who put him away or convicted him. The chorus states that at the time he had been convicted, it had been a tragedy, but now it's a legend that goes down in history. It could also be said that he was innocent. That the courts that convicted him "sold his heroes" and turned everyone against him... you could go either way with it.
I don't think it's from the perspective of a criminal sitting in a jail cell at all. That doesn't seem to fit with Luna's very personal lyrics. Rarely do they venture farther than Dean Wareham's own perspective.<br /> <br /> I think it's Dean's way painting himself as feeling guilty, but he doesn't know the reason he feels the way he does. He conjectures in the song about having a hard time dealing with his idols selling out, and maybe thinks of himself as a "sellout."<br /> <br /> Just my two cents.
I don't think it's from the perspective of a criminal sitting in a jail cell at all. That doesn't seem to fit with Luna's very personal lyrics. Rarely do they venture farther than Dean Wareham's own perspective.
I think it's Dean's way painting himself as feeling guilty, but he doesn't know the reason he feels the way he does. He conjectures in the song about having a hard time dealing with his idols selling out, and maybe thinks of himself as a "sellout."
Just my two cents.
One of the best on the album I think. I love the line "you need/time off/for good/ behavior", can't get enough of that kind of wordplay. I'm not sure if the lyrics are Dean talking to himself or if it's directed toward a person who's acting out and feeling trapped and tired. Just my share of the two cents pile going on
To me this song is the second part of Luna's song "Moon Palace" on their Penthouse album. The lyrics
"And you know there's something else But you can't give a name Someone's selling all your heroes And it seems such a shame"
say it all. What you wanted as an carefree adolescent is getting vaguer and vaguer as you're become an adult. All your friends are moving on and doing interesting things, but you're stuck, clinging to the dreams you had in your youth that only make you melancholic.