"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.
One, two, three, four
Hey baby come round
Keep holding me down
And I'll be keeping you up tonight.
The four letter word got stuck in my head
The dirtiest word that I've ever said
It's making me feel alright.
For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do
Oh what is worse I'm gonna run run run
'Till the sweetness gets to you
And what is worse I love you!
Hey please baby come back
There'll be no more loving attack
And I'll be keeping it cool tonight.
The four letter word is out of my head
Come on around get back in my bed
Keep making me feel alright.
For what it's worth I like you
And what is worse I really do
Things have been worse
And we had fun fun fun
'Till I said I love you
And what is worse I really do!
For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do.
Oh
For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do.
Oh
For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do.
Hey baby come round
Keep holding me down
And I'll be keeping you up tonight.
The four letter word got stuck in my head
The dirtiest word that I've ever said
It's making me feel alright.
For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do
Oh what is worse I'm gonna run run run
'Till the sweetness gets to you
And what is worse I love you!
Hey please baby come back
There'll be no more loving attack
And I'll be keeping it cool tonight.
The four letter word is out of my head
Come on around get back in my bed
Keep making me feel alright.
For what it's worth I like you
And what is worse I really do
Things have been worse
And we had fun fun fun
'Till I said I love you
And what is worse I really do!
For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do.
Oh
For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do.
Oh
For what it's worth I love you
And what is worse I really do.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Its about destroying the perfect fuck-buddy silent/non-silent agreement. It was all good but then she got the feelings and now it means too much and the perfection is over.
Nicely liberating feeling for her to be true to her feelings mixed with the sadness for what is no more and a slight fear for the uneven bargaining that is to come of this truth.
Such a sad song...
I was in love with a guy for years. We were hanging out all the time,we had common friends,we had great parties,but we were just friends. After 2 years one night we were totally drunk,laying on the bed and I said something to him about my feelings. He said: ,,I would do anything for you,you're my best friend but no more."
He is now married with 2 kids. I'm happy for him but I still have feelings and every time I listen to this song that night pops into my head.
Life just sucks sometimes.
goddamit. what a song. yeah. for what its worth, i love you. and what is worse? i really do.
One person feels stronger than the other. The other person is overwhelmed by the words and does not seem to feel as strongly. The person has to hold back their feelings so as not to jeopardize the situation that they want so badly to work out. As good as a situation is, love can not be forced upon someone.
Do you want someone who doesn't want you?
Of course you do. Sometimes you want them more because they don't want you. Time to change that thought.
Hmm.. \"for what it\'s worth\" - maybe she\'s comfortin someone but then she said the four-letter word and it just didnt help the situation. But then it made her feel alright coz maybe she\'s been holdin her feelings back for some time already..
Yeah, sometimes one wants someone who dont want them. It\'s a big risk tellin \"I love you\" to the one who doesnt love them back though.
This song, rocks-my-socks.
I love this song. We've all been there...
There are two people who have a lot of fun, and things get le-sexy, but she is like, oh shit, I love this guy
The guy is like "woah... what?!"
She sees him the next day and is like "yeah sorry about that, uh... I don't know what happened, I'm better now though."
He's like "okay. :3"
She's like "omg omg omg I love you, and fuck... I mean it too..."
what a nice song. :3
Awesome track. Definitely about the friendship crossing into more serious tones, I agree.
I hadn't put the sexual side on it though - doesn't need it :)
Why the fuck can I relate to this :c