"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.
Close the door and take the stairs
Up or down, ups and downs
Well, don't pretend you've never been there
You kiss me like an over-dramatic actor
Who's starving for work
With one last shot to make it happen
You've won the role, you've played your part
You've been cordially invited
But I'm not impressed, and I'm definitely not excited
'Cause the film runs a shallow budget
And the writer's subject script isn't any deeper
So dive right in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
Don't quit 'til 47
Then we'll turn it up, and we'll play a little faster
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
She said
"Alright alright, slow down"
Oh no, oh no, we won't
'Cause I regret everything that I said
To ever make her feel like she was something special
Or that she ever really mattered
Or did she ever really matter?
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Just don't count on this summer
Don't quit 'til 47
Then we'll turn it up, and we'll play a little faster
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
I'm not saying that I'm not breaking
Some hearts tonight, girl oh oh
I'm not saying that I'm not breaking
Some hearts tonight, girl
Alright, alright, slow down
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Up or down, ups and downs
Well, don't pretend you've never been there
You kiss me like an over-dramatic actor
Who's starving for work
With one last shot to make it happen
You've won the role, you've played your part
You've been cordially invited
But I'm not impressed, and I'm definitely not excited
'Cause the film runs a shallow budget
And the writer's subject script isn't any deeper
So dive right in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
Don't quit 'til 47
Then we'll turn it up, and we'll play a little faster
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
She said
"Alright alright, slow down"
Oh no, oh no, we won't
'Cause I regret everything that I said
To ever make her feel like she was something special
Or that she ever really mattered
Or did she ever really matter?
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Just don't count on this summer
Don't quit 'til 47
Then we'll turn it up, and we'll play a little faster
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
I'm not saying that I'm not breaking
Some hearts tonight, girl oh oh
I'm not saying that I'm not breaking
Some hearts tonight, girl
Alright, alright, slow down
Take back everything you ever said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Take back everything you said
You never meant a word of it
You never did
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
Hollywood hills and suburban thrills
Hey you, who are you kidding?
I'm not like them, I won't buy in
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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."
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/
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.
I love love love !!!!!! this song and the video. Jesus, William is sooo painfully lanky!! oh by the by: "don't quit till forty-seven" is a refrence to The Romones.
i can't believe no one has commented on this song. this is an amazing song.
yeah it is...
"Or that she ever really mattered Or did she ever really matter? "
this song most likely has several different meanings, but part of it sounded like someone the singer knew was a complete suburbian and tries to create drama to enhance their boring life ("you kissed me like an overdramatic actor") but he doesnt want anything to do with the suburbians ("im not like them, i wont buy in")
these guys are great live, i really rocemmend seeing a show
DUDE. The Academy Is... is so effing good. I think this is my favorite song of theirs, I could listen to it for forever.
i'm surprised that there aren't more comments...
this song has to be my favorite on the album. it's just so amazing...
"Hollywood hills and suburban thrills and you Who are you kidding? I'm not like them I won't buy it Hollywood hills and suburban thrills Just don't count on the summer donn’t Quit your forty-seven Then we'll turn it up and we'll play a little faster" i love the chorus.
very good song.
this song is my favorite by them! the chorus is so great, i can't stop listening to it!
Everyone just is way too dramatic and he is saying he's not like that and he won't give up doing what he loves until at least forty-seven? Don't know, but I love this song.
Simply in love w/ this song! my fav in the album =D
Tho' I think this song is simply about the hypocrisy of the entertainment world and how it changes people so fast, which he's reffering as to the subject of this song... I guess?
Btw, isn't it suppose to be 'Don't quit till forty-seven' and not 'donn’t Quit your forty-seven'?