"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 picked you out
Of a crowd and talked to you
Said I liked your shoes
You said "Thanks can I follow you?"
Now it's up the stairs
And out of view, no prying eyes
I poured some wine
When I asked your name,
You asked the time
Now it's 2 o'clock
The club is closed
We're up the block
Your hands on me,
Pressing hard against your jeans
Your tongue in my mouth
Tryin to keep the words from comin out
You didn't care to know
Who else may have been here before
I want a lover I don't have to love
I want a boy who's so drunk he doesn't talk
Where's the kid with the chemicals?
I thought I'd meet him here
But I'm not sure
I got the money if you got the time
You said it feels good
I said, "I'll give it a try"
Then my mind went dark
We both forgot where your car was parked
So let's take the train
I'll meet up with the band in the morning
Bad actors, with bad habits
Some sad singers
They just play tragic
And the phone's ringin'
And the band's leavin'
Let's just keep touching
Let's just, keep on singing
I want a lover I don't have to love
I want a boy who's so drunk he doesn't talk
Yea, where's the kid with the chemicals?
I got a hunger and I can't seem to get full
I need a meaning I can memorize
The kind I have always seems to slip my mind
But you
You write such pretty words
But life's no story book
Love's an excuse to get hurt
And to hurt
Do you like to hurt?
I do, I do
Then hurt me
Then hurt me
Didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
Of a crowd and talked to you
Said I liked your shoes
You said "Thanks can I follow you?"
Now it's up the stairs
And out of view, no prying eyes
I poured some wine
When I asked your name,
You asked the time
Now it's 2 o'clock
The club is closed
We're up the block
Your hands on me,
Pressing hard against your jeans
Your tongue in my mouth
Tryin to keep the words from comin out
You didn't care to know
Who else may have been here before
I want a lover I don't have to love
I want a boy who's so drunk he doesn't talk
Where's the kid with the chemicals?
I thought I'd meet him here
But I'm not sure
I got the money if you got the time
You said it feels good
I said, "I'll give it a try"
Then my mind went dark
We both forgot where your car was parked
So let's take the train
I'll meet up with the band in the morning
Bad actors, with bad habits
Some sad singers
They just play tragic
And the phone's ringin'
And the band's leavin'
Let's just keep touching
Let's just, keep on singing
I want a lover I don't have to love
I want a boy who's so drunk he doesn't talk
Yea, where's the kid with the chemicals?
I got a hunger and I can't seem to get full
I need a meaning I can memorize
The kind I have always seems to slip my mind
But you
You write such pretty words
But life's no story book
Love's an excuse to get hurt
And to hurt
Do you like to hurt?
I do, I do
Then hurt me
Then hurt me
Didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I'm surprised no one has commented on this song!! Well anyway, I have always loved Bright Eyes' version of it, but then I heard the song on the OC and noticed it was sung by a woman...and I have to say that I really like this version. Anyway, I think the song meaning is pretty self-explanatory, it's about having sex or hooking up with someone without even the pretense of having feelings for each other. The different ending in this song (it didn't hurt me) vs. the bright eyes' ending (then hurt me) I think is really cool because the girl is saying that she just wanted a hookup too (whereas usually it's the boy who hurts the girl by only using her)!! Anyway GOOD SONG
yeh i heard this song on the OC and i thought it sounded great int he episode how it weaved throught it appearing three times in the ep splitting the song up. I firstly downloaded the bright eyes verison wen i found out wot the song was but then realised it was a males voice wen a female sung it on the OC and then i downloaded this version which i think is better in some aspects but i enjoy both and of course bright eyes write the orignial lyrcis so i do prefer the original
I heard this song on the OC too and I loved it. I loved the original and I love it sung by a female as well 'cause it just seems that the 'one night stand' seems to be coined by males yet this version of the song has a very femme fatale feel.
I heard this song on the OC also, I knew the tune from Bright Eyes, that I loved, and then heard it was a female voice, I like it. It suiuted the scene that it was played.
I think it's ok as a song, but nothing can top the original.
Something I find rather amusing is that in the original chorus it goes "i want a girl who's too sad to give a fuck" and the second part is "i want a boy who's so drunk he doesn't talk." In this version, it's only "i want a boy...".
I do like both versions, but there is just something about this one that makes me prefer it - I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's beacuse the female voice makes it sound more powerful beacuse it isn't cliched, whereas for a guy to want to hook up for just sex is kinda stereotypical - anyway, amazing song, really fitted well within the OC episode that it was featured in.
Generally I like this one more; I think there's more emotion behind the lyrics. It's something to do with the pauses I think. I don't really like Bright Eyes as I think their lyrics are great but the meaning and emotion seems to get lost a little when it's sung.
One thing I really don't like though is the change from "You didn't care to know/ Who else may have been you before" to "You didn't care to know/ Who else may have been HERE before". I know it's a really minor change but I feel like it makes a lot of difference. It turns the line into a cliche whereas before it really emphasised the idea of meaningless sex with the image of repetition and all these girls blending into one.
I like both versions too. I agree with nicchikk about the "it didn't hurt me" part. Definitely makes the point that girls sometimes just want a no strings attached kind of encounter.
this song is amazing, period. i heard it on the OC for the first time, and that one scene that it played in was orgasmic, zomg that guy is hawtttt!
I personally like it much more when its sung by Conor. I liked the Bright Eyes version much more, then again, I'm a hardcore Bright Eyes fan. And she doesn't sing the exact lryics and tune, witch annoyed me at first, it grew on me a bit. I like this version too, I like the female voice, it gives a different yet still kinda satisfying feel to it. But I'm still with loving Bright Eyes!