"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 doesn't pay to try
All the smart boys know why
It doesn't mean I didn't try
I just never know why
Feel so cold and all alone
'Cause, baby, you're not at home
And when I'm home
Big deal, I'm still alone
Feel so restless, I am
Beat my head against a pole
Try to knock some sense
Down in my bones
And even though they don't show
The scars aren't so old
And when they go
They let you know
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't try
You're just a bastard kid
And you got no name
'Cause you're living with me
We're one and the same
And even though they don't show
They scars aren't so old
And when they go
They let you know
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't try
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't try
All the smart boys know why
It doesn't mean I didn't try
I just never know why
Feel so cold and all alone
'Cause, baby, you're not at home
And when I'm home
Big deal, I'm still alone
Feel so restless, I am
Beat my head against a pole
Try to knock some sense
Down in my bones
And even though they don't show
The scars aren't so old
And when they go
They let you know
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't try
You're just a bastard kid
And you got no name
'Cause you're living with me
We're one and the same
And even though they don't show
They scars aren't so old
And when they go
They let you know
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't try
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
You can't put your arms around a memory
Don't try, don't try
Lyrics submitted by greatbigkiss
You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory Lyrics as written by John Genzale
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great version of a great song,
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Ps. he wrote this song wayyyy before he was a junkie he was doing speed at that time and he wasn't shooting anything up. he didn't start doing H until jerry nolan joined the Dolls. their original drummer died on their first trip to England. David, slyvain,aurther weren't junkies aurther was an alcoholic. slyvain & david smoked pot and had a cocktail every once in a while, they were music junkies.
so you guys can all suck a fat one with your bullshit junkie stories
Ps. he wrote this song wayyyy before he was a junkie he was doing speed at that time and he wasn't shooting anything up. he didn't start doing H until jerry nolan joined the Dolls. their original drummer died on their first trip to England. David, slyvain,aurther weren't junkies aurther was an alcoholic. slyvain & david smoked pot and had a cocktail every once in a while, they were music junkies.
so you guys can all suck a fat one with your bullshit junkie stories
Junkie Shakes, you a deusch. You think you know everything about the guy. The song is about what ever you want it to be, wether its love, drugs, or whatever. Get over yourself.
You guys are all fucking idiots, this song is about his girlfriend he had when he was 19, and he got the line you can't put your arms around a memory from the TV show the honey mooners and put it in the song. Johnny Wrote this song wayyy before the dolls.
i agree that it's about a relationship. irunamonkeycasino-- the first lyrics is to me sayin that if he was smart he never would of gotten into a relationship because now hes alone and heartbroken and obviously if your not with that person anymore. when you happen to think about them all you have is your memorys..and therefore.. 'you can't put your arms around a memory" prooves everything just stated to me. thank you =]
I probably should say "I can't believe anybody hasn't commented on this song..." and so on.
Anyway, this song is about drug use and abuse and how no-one wants to have anything to do with you when they realize you're a junkie and how you can never comfort yourself with memories of happier times.
I think its about heroin addiction and how he got started... It doesn't pay to try, All the smart boys know why- its saying that trying heroin isn't a good thing to do and if your smart you won't. It doesn't mean I didn't try, I just never know why- he is basically saying that even though I know what it will do I'll give it a shot and now he is regretting it. From there on it just describes the feelings of being a junky, with the lonliness and being restless
In their Live From Royal Festival Hall concert in 2004, The New York Dolls covered this song. David Johansen and Syl Sylvain nearly in tears, Syl singing, "I can't put my arms around a... Johnny."
this song makes me so sad. this is a great song. especially this part: It doesn't pay to try, All the smart boys know why, It doesn't mean I didn't try, I just never know why. Feel so cold and all alone, Cause baby, you're not at home. And when I'm home Big deal, I'm still alone.
btw, didn't johnny do meth aswell?
sure its about heroine, its johnny htunders, but i think you guys are missing the bigger picture. its more about missing someone you love, cmon johhny was a candydrop, an ol' softie, one fer true love, but he was wieghed down by drugs and addiction and it got him early. its about not being litterally able to put your arms around the one you love, and when the dolls played it it took on the meaning for johnny. music means something different to everyone. i just lost my girlfried this song reminds me of her. not my addiction for hderoine. johnny htunders knew how do write about heartbreak.