"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.
LUPE: Yo
PHARREL: Hold it now!
LUPE: Uh
LUPE: Get up and walk up to her and say [go over there] hi. That's all you gotta do is say hi. That's all you gotta do. Say hi.
Well I know I'm not the coolest
And this might sound kind of foolish
Cause I know I'm not the smoothest
Told myself I shouldn't do this
Cause I'm not very well suited
Not the popularest of students
We ain't in the same crowd
Always see you with the hoopers
But we got the same lunch
You might see me with the cooler
That's 'cause I don't eat pork
You can never be sure
Oh, you like Linkin Park
That's the hat from the tour
I got a autographed shirt they wrote “much love to ya!"
Man that's really funny how we like tha same music
But I really love jazz
I was gonna play the tuba
I tried to join tha band they said I was really really bad
Didn't really make me sad
I'm used to being the loser
But you, I think you're super
So much I had to pursue ya
I don't believe the things they say or the football teams rumors
Tha quarterback cant spell
I'm his after school tutor
I just took a cue from cupid
Now I think its stupid
I'm sorry...
And then I walked away
Thinkin' that she would never talk to me
Like what were you thinking?
Bringing up the band..
You would have got a better result if would have just beat her up and ran
You shouldn't have worn your glasses
Take your shirt up out your pants
See, now its all over
And you wont get another chance
Damn..
I was so close to her
Then I felt a hand on my shoulder
She said I know your not the coolest but I swear you are the cutest
And I know you played the tuba
I seen you at the recital
It takes a lot to get up there and embarrass yourself
But you shouldn't put down you should merit yourself
That's just mean you not a punk
I like the loneliest monk
Hest the wallpaper on my computer
I love Final Fantasy
I hate first person shooters (me too)
Meteora was nice, but I bought Hybrid Theory twice
Half of tha cheerleading squad is in the stouper
Tha only reason I do it cause of my mother took state when she was a junior
And she want me to do tha same so I'm like naw
I wanna be an oncologist and diagnose tumors
I gotta a pet parrot his name is Mister Tuna
My favorite food is fish
Remember that for the future
My IM name is miss luana you can hit me after six
(How you feelin' right now?)
Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes!
Come see more, we have things to do
(How you feelin' right now?)
PHARREL: Hold it now!
LUPE: Uh
LUPE: Get up and walk up to her and say [go over there] hi. That's all you gotta do is say hi. That's all you gotta do. Say hi.
Well I know I'm not the coolest
And this might sound kind of foolish
Cause I know I'm not the smoothest
Told myself I shouldn't do this
Cause I'm not very well suited
Not the popularest of students
We ain't in the same crowd
Always see you with the hoopers
But we got the same lunch
You might see me with the cooler
That's 'cause I don't eat pork
You can never be sure
Oh, you like Linkin Park
That's the hat from the tour
I got a autographed shirt they wrote “much love to ya!"
Man that's really funny how we like tha same music
But I really love jazz
I was gonna play the tuba
I tried to join tha band they said I was really really bad
Didn't really make me sad
I'm used to being the loser
But you, I think you're super
So much I had to pursue ya
I don't believe the things they say or the football teams rumors
Tha quarterback cant spell
I'm his after school tutor
I just took a cue from cupid
Now I think its stupid
I'm sorry...
And then I walked away
Thinkin' that she would never talk to me
Like what were you thinking?
Bringing up the band..
You would have got a better result if would have just beat her up and ran
You shouldn't have worn your glasses
Take your shirt up out your pants
See, now its all over
And you wont get another chance
Damn..
I was so close to her
Then I felt a hand on my shoulder
She said I know your not the coolest but I swear you are the cutest
And I know you played the tuba
I seen you at the recital
It takes a lot to get up there and embarrass yourself
But you shouldn't put down you should merit yourself
That's just mean you not a punk
I like the loneliest monk
Hest the wallpaper on my computer
I love Final Fantasy
I hate first person shooters (me too)
Meteora was nice, but I bought Hybrid Theory twice
Half of tha cheerleading squad is in the stouper
Tha only reason I do it cause of my mother took state when she was a junior
And she want me to do tha same so I'm like naw
I wanna be an oncologist and diagnose tumors
I gotta a pet parrot his name is Mister Tuna
My favorite food is fish
Remember that for the future
My IM name is miss luana you can hit me after six
(How you feelin' right now?)
Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes!
Come see more, we have things to do
(How you feelin' right now?)
Lyrics submitted by chrisriggs, edited by Mellow_Harsher
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Actually k. west I think that this song is actually a metaphor and is not straightforward as it seems. I think that the "girl" in this case is hip-hop.
I think the first part is about how he approached hip-hop (the girl) and was initially attracted to it but "wasn't well suited for it" becuase he was kind of a nerd and wasn't into the vulgarity that came along with hip hop.
"And then I walked away, thinkin she would never talk to me"- After initially being turned off by hip-hop he quit rapping, thinking it wasn't for him.
"Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. She said I know your not the coolest but I swear you are the cutest"-"The hand"- Rappers like Nas and Too $short inspired him to return to hip hop because they showed him that you dont have to be "cool" and rap about women,gangs, money etc. and that you can be yourself.
"Man that's really funny how we like the same music"- Here Lupe talks about although he and the girl (hip-hop) were very different, they both shared common music interests.
They both like jazz (Thelonis Monk was a jazz pianist). Hip hop originated from jazz.
They both like Linkin Park (Meteora and Hybrid Theory were Linkin Park albums). Jay-Z released a mash-up album with Linkin Park in 2004.
"I hate first person shooters (me too)"- He doesn't like the violence in hip-hop.
"Half of tha cheerleading squad is in the stouper Tha only reason I do it cause of my mother took state when she was a junior"- Here Lupe is talking more or less on how hip-hop is dead (in a stupor) because rapppers are just doing what others before them did because they think thats how hip-hop should be.
"And she want me to du tha same so I'm like naw I wanna be an oncologist and diagnose tumors"- Lupe wants to do is own thing and make a positive impact on the world.
Anyways, just my two cents. Maybe I'm overthinking it and its just a straight forward narrative, but I really think that the girl represents hip-hop.
buckko, it's for posts like yours that this site exists. brilliant analysis; thank you for opening up an avenue into lupe's mind.
It's "Thelonius Monk" btw. Not "The Lonliest Monk" Thelonius Monk was a Jazz musician. He played the piano and composed music. He died in 1982.
though some people hear 'the loneliest monk' which is a rather good pun.
@joshua!BurnsRed
"My IM name is miss Luna you can hit me after six"
It might just be Luna = moon and the moon comes out at night (after 6).
wow, just getting this one..
Man, listening to it now, the second to last line, "Come see more, we have things to do" could be Seymour, instead of see more.. but yeah. Amazing song. I wish it was on the new album, but it's great.
This song is one of my favorite on the whole albumn... and I believe that his real name is Seymore... so it should be "Seymore, we have things to do". But this is the dorks anthem, I love it.
his real lame is wasulu...
Honestly...this is one of the sweetest songs of all time.
Where are the rest of the lyrics? I absolutely love the 4 minute version.
lol I love the Final Fantasy reference. Great song too; the full version can be listened to exclusively on Rhapsody - which if you're a fan of music you should definitely pay the $10 a month or whatever for this service.)
Or I'm sure it's on Limewire or something
I love this song! I have it as my ringtone, and whenever my phone rings, someone always stops me and asks me who's spittin in this song. Lupe for president!
Hip hop with a Final Fantasy reference, brilliant Lupe.