"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's so much better
When everyone is in
Are you in?
It's so much better
When everyone is in
Are you in?
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Are you in?
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Are you in?
It's so much better
When everyone is in
Are you in?
It's so much easier
When seafoam green is in fashion
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Are you in?
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Are you in?
Are you, are you, are you, are you
Are you, are you, are you, are you
Are you, are you, are you, are you
Are you, are you, are you, are you
Oh-oh-oh (are you, are you, are you, are you)
Oh-oh-oh (are you, are you, are you, are you)
Oh-oh-oh (are you, are you, are you, are you)
Oh no, oh-oh, no
Are-are you in
Are-are, are
You, you, i-i-in
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Are you in?
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
When everyone is in
Are you in?
It's so much better
When everyone is in
Are you in?
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Are you in?
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Are you in?
It's so much better
When everyone is in
Are you in?
It's so much easier
When seafoam green is in fashion
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Are you in?
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Are you in?
Are you, are you, are you, are you
Are you, are you, are you, are you
Are you, are you, are you, are you
Are you, are you, are you, are you
Oh-oh-oh (are you, are you, are you, are you)
Oh-oh-oh (are you, are you, are you, are you)
Oh-oh-oh (are you, are you, are you, are you)
Oh no, oh-oh, no
Are-are you in
Are-are, are
You, you, i-i-in
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Are you in?
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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 think the song is about how its so much better when we all get along. all is in... no one is out!
This song kind of epitomizes the overall theme of the whole album. Every Incubus album seems to have a different feeling behind it. A Crow Left of the Murder was very political, Make Yourself was very humanistic and focused on self-realization, and Morning View was all about forgetting all the shit that's thrown at you and enjoying life. This song represents that perfectly. Like whatever you and your friends do to chill and let go, do that, whether it's pot (sea-foam green) or whatever. Brandon is asking the listener directly "Are you ready to let go and enjoy life? Are you in?"
Has anyone taken the time to realize how talented Dirk Lance is?? GOODNESS, that boy can take a bass guitar to TOWN people. I saw incubus in concert about 2 weeks ago, and during this song he was all over. I only want to say one thing to those who say that this isn't a good song because the simple lyrics. Incubus makes MUSIC. Simple as that. They have a bass player, drummer, guitarist, dj as WELL as a singer. Why not let em all have a chance to show they can jam out? Great neat, great groove, hell of a vocal melody, and good guitar SUPPORT (switching roles!!) Guys... beautifully written song has to be respected...
I love this song =] Ar first i though it was kind of about chilling out and friendship but after watching the video, i think its got a bit more of a cheeky sexual meaning. Its nicer to think its the friend thing but i think its more applying to threesomes etc...
it's about an orgy. brandon boyd got inteviewed by chad micheal murray for ellegirl and brandon boyd said yes.
@celestina1the2 could definitely see them singing about such a theme, and with such a mellow / chilled out tune :)
Do mushrooms and you'll get this song.
this is the first enlightened response i have seen regarding this song. manhands knows the deal. acid (lsd) will also do the trick.
My interpretation, having not seen the video (cause I didn't want it to influence my interpretation) is that this is a tongue & cheek song about how there's the "in" crowd that always has to be in hip/fashion and be conformists, then there is the followers who always want to be with the "in" crowd and then there's the others such as the geeks, nerds and the non-conformists. The song is more of a sarcastic/matter-of-fact take on these types of social scenarios, saying "are you in" or are you a geeks/nerd.
Love the track, chill music....
I think it is really simple, just that things are always better when everyone is in. When we are all on the same page, all in, all together....
Also Incubus are a bunch of Surfers and for them I would imagine when Sea Foam Green is in fashion the waves are good, and also good times when all are in with that.
This song is good, When I went to see Incubus Brandon said there was no need to ask us this question! :)
this song is about an orgy. if you look up a interview that chad micheal murray did with brandon boyd in ellegirl you will see.
his voice is amazing on this one...but then, they all are :)