"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.
Hey now now, they'll find you when you're sleeping
they'll reach in and grab what you're dreamin'
cut it up and slip it back in, and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
Hey now now, the smallest things are crushing me now
the crush crush crush is so comforting now
did the earth just slam in the sun, and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
won't undo their past by walking and talking backwards
Hey now now, we're goin' down down
and we ride the bus there and pay the bus fare
or we find a new reason, a new way of living
and we breathe it in and try to dream again
Hey now now, they'll find you when you're sleeping, now now
they'll reach in and grab what you're dreamin', now now
cut it up and slip it back in and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
Hey now now, the smallest things are crushing me now
the crush crush crush is so comforting now
did the earth just slam in the sun, and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
won't undo their past by walking and talking backwards
Hey now now, we're goin' down down
and we ride the bus there and pay the bus fare
or we find a new reason, a new way of living
and we breathe it in and try to dream again
they'll reach in and grab what you're dreamin'
cut it up and slip it back in, and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
Hey now now, the smallest things are crushing me now
the crush crush crush is so comforting now
did the earth just slam in the sun, and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
won't undo their past by walking and talking backwards
Hey now now, we're goin' down down
and we ride the bus there and pay the bus fare
or we find a new reason, a new way of living
and we breathe it in and try to dream again
Hey now now, they'll find you when you're sleeping, now now
they'll reach in and grab what you're dreamin', now now
cut it up and slip it back in and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
Hey now now, the smallest things are crushing me now
the crush crush crush is so comforting now
did the earth just slam in the sun, and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
won't undo their past by walking and talking backwards
Hey now now, we're goin' down down
and we ride the bus there and pay the bus fare
or we find a new reason, a new way of living
and we breathe it in and try to dream again
Lyrics submitted by mattd23
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Fast Car
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The part where he says "pass by walking and talking backwards" he definately says something before that but I can't make it out. Also, I'm not sure if he says lime or lying. Your help will be appreciated. Anyway, I think this song is about how you shouldn't let others keep you from living your dream and that just be yourself, no matter how different others think you are.
i think what he says is 'lying' @ that part. i definitely think you're right about the meaning. the 'cut it up and slip it back in' part points to that. what do you think the 'smallest things are crushing me now' means? maybe like he feels really really defeated and not confident - like, even the littlest things are getting to him??
the lyrics actually go Hey now now, they'll find you when you're sleeping they'll reach in and grab what you're dreamin' cut it up and slip it back in, and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
Hey now now, the smallest things are crushing me now the crush crush crush is so comforting now did the earth just slam in the sun, and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
won't undo their past by walking and talking backwards
Hey now now, we're goin' down down and we ride the bus there and pay the bus fare or we find a new reason, a new way of living and we breathe it in and try to dream again Hey now now, they'll find you when you're sleeping, now now they'll reach in and grab what you're dreamin', now now cut it up and slip it back in and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
Hey now now, the smallest things are crushing me now the crush crush crush is so comforting now did the earth just slam in the sun, and I know, and I know, and I know, and I know it
won't undo their past by walking and talking backwards
Hey now now, we're goin' down down and we ride the bus there and pay the bus fare or we find a new reason, a new way of living and we breathe it in and try to dream again
Thanks. Fixed it.
I just read that J wrote this song as he waited 3 weeks for a second HIV test after having tested positive the first time (it turned out negative).
He says this about the song in an interview: "I wasn't sure where it came from-- it sounded like a children's song."
I'm not really sure about what this song means but I think it means that you can either let people just take your dreams away and looking in the past (won't undo their past by walking and talking backwards) and that you should just look towards the future and take the chances that are given to you.
I guess that would make sence if he wrote this song whilst he thought he might have HIV because it's kinda a song that tells you to value life and keep living...
This song is so upbeat. It makes me want to bounce up and down. And I agree with x_hotelpaper about it being about looking towards the future and not passing up any opportunities.
brilliant
This is what drew me into the Cloud Room This song made me fall in love with them. I LOVE THE CLOUD ROOM!!!
"and we breathe it in and try to dream again" That line interchanges with "and we shout it out and try to dream again"