"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.
Distant flickering, its greener scenery,
This weathers bringing it all back again.
Great adventures, faces and condensation,
I'm going outside and take it all in.
You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
We're a different pair, just something out of step,
Throw a stranger an unexpected smile.
With big intention, still posted at your station
Always on about the day it should have flown.
You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
Afraid to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
I'm walking, you've been hiding,
And you look half dead half the time.
Monitoring you, like machines do,
You've still got it, I'm just keeping an eye
I've been walking, you've been hiding,
And you look half dead half the time.
Monitoring you, like machines do,
You've still got it, I'm just keeping an eye
You know you're better than this
Come back and start, got your heart in a headlock,
No I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
Afraid to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
This weathers bringing it all back again.
Great adventures, faces and condensation,
I'm going outside and take it all in.
You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
We're a different pair, just something out of step,
Throw a stranger an unexpected smile.
With big intention, still posted at your station
Always on about the day it should have flown.
You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
Afraid to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
I'm walking, you've been hiding,
And you look half dead half the time.
Monitoring you, like machines do,
You've still got it, I'm just keeping an eye
I've been walking, you've been hiding,
And you look half dead half the time.
Monitoring you, like machines do,
You've still got it, I'm just keeping an eye
You know you're better than this
Come back and start, got your heart in a headlock,
No I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
Afraid to start, got your heart in a headlock,
I don't believe any of it.
You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,
You know your better than this.
Lyrics submitted by badlydrawnroy, edited by Lunyre, aholady7114
Headlock Lyrics as written by Imogen Jennifer Heap
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song has absolutely nothing to do with relationships, NOTHING! Not as it is. You're free to take it how ever you please though.
This song is more general than that though. Someone here said since the song contains the word "Heart" its automatically about love. NO! This song deals with heart in the sense of "Passion".
Imogen is saying to someone she cares for, or she could be talking to herself, there is much more out there than what they've settled for "Distant flickerings, greener scenery". She's sees the person has given up on trying to fulfill their dream, whatever it may be, "With big intention, still posted at your station, Always on about the day it should have flied". Finally she says I'm calling your bluff, I know you still got it in you "You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock, I don't believe any of it. You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock, You know your better than this".
Heart in a Headlock - Something is compromising your passion.
Thanks.
I always thought this song was about someone logically afraid to love, but this theory actually makes complete sense of the song!<br /> <br /> Although I would actually phrase it differently: this song is about someone afraid to follow their dreams (the true desires of their heart) because their head says their dreams are unrealistic and impossible to achieve.<br /> <br /> Another line to support this theory:<br /> "Go walking, you've been hiding,<br /> And you look half dead half the time."<br /> <br /> Someone's who's given up on their dreams will certain look half dead a lot of the time!
Also, when she says "I don't believe any of it", she's referring to the reasons the subject's head provides about why his/her dreams can't happen - they're the same reasons that the subject provides to Imogen when she tries to encourage the subject to pursue his/her dreams.
this is one of my favourite songs on her new album. her voice is so amazing... as always.
I have a friend who is in a bad relationship, and one day I was listening to this song, and it made me think of her. She think's she's in love (heart in a headlock) but I know that she should know better (you know you're better than this) I'd say it's about being concerned about someone that is possibly making some bad decisions, and the singer is trying to look out for them, and snap them out of it.
I’ve been walking, you’ve been hiding,<br /> And you look half dead half the time.<br /> Monitoring you, like machines do,<br /> You’ve still got it, I’m just keeping an eye.<br /> <br /> I’ve been walking through life freely and openly after making the hard decision to break up with the Fiancée that I knew wasn’t a perfect match for me. I chose not to settle while you witnessed the complexity and disappointment associated with our break-up. You also witnessed the recovery period; where I soul-searched and found myself and peace in love and the decision I made. Despite this, you’re hiding behind the comfort and rhythm of your 3 year-long relationship instead of doing what you know is right: ending it. You hide behind the everyday routine to avoid breaking hearts and serving disappointment, but at the cost of your happiness. I’ve been watching you and noticed how you’re different when he’s around. You seem restricted and unsure of yourself. I see you sleeping too much and refusing to wake-up because in your dreams you are free and you don’t want to return to the life you feel trapped inside. I’ve seen what you’re capable of and I’m here to reassure you that you’ve still got the freedom of choice. <br /> <br /> You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock,<br /> I don’t believe any of it.<br /> You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock,<br /> You know you’re better than this.<br /> <br /> You keep telling yourself it’s too late to start another relationship (with me) because another man has your heart in a headlock. Maybe not by you being uncontrollably in love with him but by the commitment you’ve made for over 3 years and the pressures and expectations placed upon the two of you to last by everyone involved. You know if you aren’t 100% happy and sure of your relationship that you shouldn’t settle, but your heart is in a headlock; without the freedom to choose without disappointing people or breaking hearts. I can’t believe you’re the kind of girl to settle.<br /> <br /> With big intention, still posted at your station<br /> Always on about the day it should have flown.<br /> <br /> I have always been here by your side; waiting for you. Waiting for the day that you’ll do what you know is right in your heart. He has you’re heart in a headlock and you’ve got mine. I will continue to be here; secretly waiting for you to find the strength in yourself as I see it so. As frustrating as it may be, here I’ll wait for you. <br />
If I ever make a film, this is going in the intro... that's just how it feels, like the song that sets the scene for a story.
Distant flickering, its greener scenery, This weathers bringing it all back again. Great adventures, faces and condensation, I'm going outside and take it all in.
We?re a different pair, just something out of step, Throw a stranger an unexpected smile. With big intention, still posted at your station Always on about the day it should have flown
You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock, I don't believe any of it. You say too late to start, with your heart in a headlock, You know your better than this.
Get over it bcuz you know you can think of better and happier things. I don't believe any of it means I'm not thinking the same way you are (the person giving advice).
I've been walking, you've been hidding, And you look half dead half the time. Monitoring you, like machines do, You've still got it, I'm just keeping an eye
right on ).
i think this song is about someone beleaving in someone who doesnt beleave in themselves. She see's that the person still has it in them, even though they dont.
i think you've got a few words wrong...
"wear a different pair, do something out of step throw a stranger an unexpected smile with big intention, still posted at your station"
and then:
"you've been working (she's british, it sounds like "walking" to us), you've been hiding,"
But I could be wrong...
I love her attitude in this song.
It fits for me really well, cause I like this guy and he can't make up his mind whether he likes me or not. Him not making up his mind would be like "You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock" and I don't believe him at all xD
I agree with you on her attitude. I love it. It's an empowering song to people who are in love with someone who can't make up their minds.
I agree with people who say that a reference to the heart doesn't have to refer to love but I think in this instance it does as a heart in headlock implies a heart that cannot love because it is so constrained.
I'm with a lot of the previous comments about the desire for a relationship but I didn't think it was an ex but a long term friend who the narrator now wants to be more (and that they might want more too if they'd only open their heart). I think this because of the shared history implied in the first verse and the "big intention" in the 3rd verse that was never realised due to circumstances. Maybe they were both in different relationships that prevented them getting together before. Now the person feels too hurt to try and love again which is why it is "too late to start". The other reason I think they're close friends is because of the line "I don't believe any of it" given in response to the other person saying they're too emotionally hurt to try and love again. That's something you could only say to someone you think you know better than they know themselves.
Just my 2 cents worth
Actually, this is more than just believing in someone. It's a specific kind of relationship between the narrator and the person they're talking to. It's about love, otherwise there would be ne no references to "hearts".
The key line here is "With big intention, still posted at your station Always on about the day it should have flown."
Which shows that the narrator is the one who wants something from the person, and the person can't give it to them ("too late to start") because they are pre-occupied with something else ("heart in a headlock").
Specifically, the narrator wants a relationship with the person, but the person cannot get into it because their heart is too mangled [from past relationships?], but the narrator still has the patience to wait for them, however frustrating it may be.