"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 can't feel this way much longer
Expecting to survive
With all these hidden innuendoes
Just waiting to arrive
It's such a wavy midnight
And you slip into insane
Electric angel rock and roller
I hear what you're playin'
It's an orangy sky
Always it's some other guy
It's just a broken lullaby
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Substitution mass confusion
Clouds inside your head
Involving all my energies
Until you visited
With your eyes of porcelain and of blue
They shock me into sense
You think you're so illustrious
You call yourself intense
It's an orangy sky
Always it's some other guy
It's just a broken lullaby
Bye bye love
Bye goo' bye love
bye bye love
Bye bye love
Substitution mass confusion
Clouds inside your head
Well, foggin' all my energies
Until you visited
With your eyes of porcelain and of blue
They shock me into sense
You think you're so illustrious
You call yourself intense
It's an orangy sky
Always it's some other guy
It's just a broken lullaby
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Expecting to survive
With all these hidden innuendoes
Just waiting to arrive
It's such a wavy midnight
And you slip into insane
Electric angel rock and roller
I hear what you're playin'
It's an orangy sky
Always it's some other guy
It's just a broken lullaby
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Substitution mass confusion
Clouds inside your head
Involving all my energies
Until you visited
With your eyes of porcelain and of blue
They shock me into sense
You think you're so illustrious
You call yourself intense
It's an orangy sky
Always it's some other guy
It's just a broken lullaby
Bye bye love
Bye goo' bye love
bye bye love
Bye bye love
Substitution mass confusion
Clouds inside your head
Well, foggin' all my energies
Until you visited
With your eyes of porcelain and of blue
They shock me into sense
You think you're so illustrious
You call yourself intense
It's an orangy sky
Always it's some other guy
It's just a broken lullaby
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Bye bye love
Lyrics submitted by ledzepp115
Bye Bye Love Lyrics as written by Ric Ocasek
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
This is my favorite song by the Cars. All of their music is the best to listen to.
I listened to the unreleast version of this with Ric singing lead. They made the right choice going with Ben.
@CandyO Regarding who sang what and why Ric Ocasek said, 'If it needs a good vocal Ben sings it.' LOL.
This song takes a whole new meaning when you have a broken heart.
It's an orangy sky Always it's some other guy It's just a broken lullaby Bye, bye love Bye, bye love Bye, bye love Bye, bye love
I think the chorus has all the meaning in this song. Its about how a guy is trying to get this girl but she always is choosing other guys, never him. "its just a broken lullaby", and finaly now he has given up.
It could also be said "bye, bye love" could be a reference to love itself, the idea of love. All "love" is, is a broken lullaby- there really isnt any "love" in most relations. Its "always some other guy" , thats even true when married. People often have crushes on celebs, idealized mates etc.
This is an ode to Vincent van Gogh. "It's such a wavy midnight and you slip into insane" is a reference to Starry Night. Starry Night was painted during his stay at an asylum in Saint-Remy. "It's an orangy sky" is a reference to Olive Grove: Orange Sky. "Always it's some other guy" is a reference to Sien Hoomik, a pregnant prostitute and mother of a child born out of wedlock, with whom van Gogh had a romantic relationship. "lullaby" is a reference to the La Berceuse painting series of Augustine Roulin. "Bye bye love" is a reference to van Gogh's suicide. And yes, van Gogh had blue eyes, mass confusion, and was intensely illustrious.
I like the idea of this song being inspired by Van Gogh, but I have to say that it seems more likely to me to have been inspired by a song of the same title by The Everly Brothers. The subject matter is actually Identical between the two songs about not only unrequited love, but jealousy over another man who has successfully seduced the target of his attraction. “Just a broken lullaby” is a direct allusion to Bye Bye Love by the Everly Brothers.... basically an old standard for a pop song from over 20 years prior that was still very much in the public consciousness in the late 1970’s. In fact, the song would have been iconic to the band because it was such a big hit during Ric’s formative years. The “broken lullaby” is a metaphor for a consistent pattern of never getting the girl, and the line is clearly delivered with a sense of resignation to further drive the point of how hopeless the situation is.
Do I have any sources or anything to back up my interpretation? No. I’ve never read anything from Ric on the meaning of this song, but this is my interpretation for what it is worth.
thats a good point about hearing different lyrics. im pretty sure its "clouds inside your head", listen to it. Then its "involving all my energies until you visited" thats how ive always heard it. "subsitution, mass confusion..." the clouds inside her head, is a reference to the female psyche, and creating confusion can be a part of seduction. "involving all my energies..." its about all the energy and effort courting awoman can take, especially when its one who thinks shes "illustrious". Maybe a girl who's a bit out of his league.
I believe it says "involving all my energies" the first time, but "fogging all my energies" the second time.
It's definitely, 100% for sure "were fogging all my energies" and also "clouds inside YOUR head" go listen to a live version, it helps get a different take/listen on the lyrics.
to clarify, yes, he does so "involving" the first time, but the second time, he definitely says "were fogging"
I always thought he was saying "It's a corn beef sky" instead of "orangey sky" hahaha. Anyway, just bought this on vinyl, it's a great album and song.
@SashaVice <br /> Lol! Now I'll hear corned beef sky from now on as well. <br /> Well played.
@SashaVice
@SashaVice it's funny you say that. I have just realized the true words for this song after if years mishearing them. I hear it's an orange sky,but when it comes to her eyes of porcelain and blue I thought it was her eyes banana blue and where it says it's just another broken lullaby I heard it's just a perfumed alabi. I'm 55 and I can't believe I never realized I was singing (in my head of course) wrong.
@SashaVice mmmm! Corn Beef!
@SashaVice ha! I was this todays year old before l knew that he sings, “it’s just a broken lullaby”! I have always sang, “it’s just a f_____n alibi”!!! lol, I like it better
I love how Ben sings this. I love the "eyes of porcelain and blue",line.