"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 would say I'm sorry
If I thought that it would change your mind
But I know that this time
I have said too much
Been too unkind
I tried to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
I tried to laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'Cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
I would break down at your feet
And beg forgiveness, plead with you
But I know that it's too late
And now there's nothing I can do
So I try to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
I try to laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'Cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
I would tell you that I loved you
If I thought that you would stay
But I know that it's no use
And you've already gone away
Misjudged your limits
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
Thought that you needed me more, more, more
Now I would do most anything
To get you back by my side
But I just keep on laughing
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'Cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
If I thought that it would change your mind
But I know that this time
I have said too much
Been too unkind
I tried to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
I tried to laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'Cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
I would break down at your feet
And beg forgiveness, plead with you
But I know that it's too late
And now there's nothing I can do
So I try to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
I try to laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'Cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
I would tell you that I loved you
If I thought that you would stay
But I know that it's no use
And you've already gone away
Misjudged your limits
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
Thought that you needed me more, more, more
Now I would do most anything
To get you back by my side
But I just keep on laughing
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'Cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
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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”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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."
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.
I love this song. . . it displays one of the Cure's greatest abilities- hiding a heartbreaking song behind a catchy chorus and melody. He's saying that he'll do anything to make up for what he's done to his girl, but he knows that there's nothing he can do to make things better. He's trying to be tough by saying "boys don't cry" but at the same time his heart is breaking.
Misjudged your limits Pushed you too far Took you for granted I thought that you needed me more
-these are my favorite lines and the ones i can relate to way too much. this song makes me sad. failed relationships are one of the most written about topics and this song is one of my favorite. the cure's songs are all very wonderful.
This song is so confusing because the music is very upbeat while the lyrics are quite depressing but I think that the obvious contrast is what makes it so beautiful.
i think some people think oh its so obvious its just about how boys dont cry, but i think its a really ironic song (and yes i know so many of you have figured that out) but i thinks beautiful and hes really saying he did cry about it, I also think theres some straight truth to the line that boys dont cry, as some people see it as a weakness and so he may have felt that he couldnt cry in front of her, because of how people see it as a weakness.....
there is no real hidden meaning to this song its pretty obvious...but it is one of the catchiest and most fun songs in the world.
Absolutely right friend :D
This song is sooo neat. He's apologizing for being an ass to his chick, who wouldn't want that?
I'm surprised no one else looks at this in my way, I believe he's explaining all the things he does or has to do, simply because society believes 'boys don't cry' or shouldn't. If you simply place quote marks over the 'because boys don't cry'. and Imagine Robert mimicking society saying this. the song becomes clear in my opinion
first time i heard this song i fell in love with it...its an amazing song and somehow sounds different than most bands.
i saw my dad cry once...that has to count for something
I agree with fleaaaaaa. It's about a guy trying to act the way society expects guys to act, ie, not crying, by just laughing it off and pretending that he doesn't care, when, in fact, he is devastated and choking back tears. A very sweet song.
tgd, i think you've made an interesting point. For me, it seems very clear that this song is about a guy who didn't treat his girl well at all and takes her for granted. After she leaves him, he realises what he lost, but pretends it doesn't bother him.
@petrolwodkagin I think the song is saying that society won't let him cry, because men are supposed to be tough, it is an eighties song from memory.
@petrolwodkagin I think the song is saying that society won't let him cry, because men are supposed to be tough, it is an eighties song from memory.