"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'll find a place somewhere in the corner
I'm gonna waste the rest of my days
Just watching patiently from the window
Just waiting seasons change, some day
Oh, oh, my dreams will pull you through that garden gate.
I want to be the wandering sailor
We're silhouettes by the light of the moon
I sit playing solitaire by the window
Just waiting seasons change, ah, ah
You'll see, one day, these dreams will pull you through my door
And I'll come running to tie your shoe
And I'll come running to tie your shoe.
I'm gonna waste the rest of my days
Just watching patiently from the window
Just waiting seasons change, some day
Oh, oh, my dreams will pull you through that garden gate.
I want to be the wandering sailor
We're silhouettes by the light of the moon
I sit playing solitaire by the window
Just waiting seasons change, ah, ah
You'll see, one day, these dreams will pull you through my door
And I'll come running to tie your shoe
And I'll come running to tie your shoe.
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Living for someone else. Devotion.
@thebodiesobtained yes - and pining and waiting for a loved one to return
Someone who wants love, but who isn't willing to lift a finger to go find it. Just expects that sitting around the house and daydreaming about it will be enough. And why will this work? Because (he asserts) he would be ever so devoted once the lover arrives... which in his head makes him worthy... and therefore love ought to just show up without his having to make any effort.
I also get the sense that this song is sort of gently poking fun at these unrealistic expectations. :)
@bouncingleaf I can see where you are coming from but i fet something completely different from this song. I think think this song is about fatherhood, you generally wouldn't tie your significant other's shoe lace. Well, not in my experience However being a father of a young girl myself this song really resonates with me. When Eno says, 'I find a place somehwere in the corner, i'm gonna wasite the rest of my days' I think can be interpreted as that acceptance of my days of rambling are over and the most important thing now is to sit and watch and wait untill my girl needs me. His eldest daughter would've been 8 when this album was released and sure another one of his igirls was young around this time, That;s my perspecitve on it. Could be wrong, beautfiul song none the less, Beautiful sentiment running to tie anyones shoes.
This Song Has Been Dedicated to Ritva Saarikko's shoes and Ian MacDonald's polish
Weird song. I can't stop listening to it.
Waiting and hoping for love to show up. In this life, there's nothing else to do.