"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'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
And I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I been thinkin' about my doorbell
Oh, well
Well, women and children need kisses
Not the man in my life I know
And I been going to mystery misses
I respect the art of the show
Take back what you said little girl
And while you're at it take yourself back too
Well I'm tired of sitting here waiting
Woman whatcha gonna do, now, whatcha gonna do about it?
I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it
Oh, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I been thinkin' about my doorbell
Oh, well
You don't seem to come around
Point your finger and make a sound
You don't seem to come around
Knock, knock, since you knocked it down
Oh, well
Make a sound and I'll make you feel right
Right at home
Yeah, right at home
Nobody got me waitin' in pain
But how come it's so easy to you
You don't strike me as the type to be callous
But your words seem so obtuse
But then again I know you feel guilty
And you tell me you want me again
But I don't need any of your pity
I got plenty of my own friends
They're all above me
And I've been thinkin' about the doorbell
When they gonna ring it, when they gonna ring it?
Yeah, I've been thinkin' about the doorbell
When they gonna ring it, when they gonna ring it?
Oh, I've been thinkin' about the doorbell
When they gonna ring it, when they gonna ring it?
Yeah, I been thinkin' about the doorbell
Oh, well
They don't seem to come around
Push the finger and make a sound
They don't seem to come around
Maybe then, they'll knock 'em down?
Oh, well
Make a sound and I'll make you feel right
Right at home
Right at home
I'm thinkin' about the doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
I'm thinkin' about the doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about the doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I been thinkin' about my doorbell
And when you're gonna ring it, when you're gonna ring it?
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
Oh, oh well
I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it?
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
And I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I been thinkin' about my doorbell
Oh, well
Well, women and children need kisses
Not the man in my life I know
And I been going to mystery misses
I respect the art of the show
Take back what you said little girl
And while you're at it take yourself back too
Well I'm tired of sitting here waiting
Woman whatcha gonna do, now, whatcha gonna do about it?
I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it
Oh, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I been thinkin' about my doorbell
Oh, well
You don't seem to come around
Point your finger and make a sound
You don't seem to come around
Knock, knock, since you knocked it down
Oh, well
Make a sound and I'll make you feel right
Right at home
Yeah, right at home
Nobody got me waitin' in pain
But how come it's so easy to you
You don't strike me as the type to be callous
But your words seem so obtuse
But then again I know you feel guilty
And you tell me you want me again
But I don't need any of your pity
I got plenty of my own friends
They're all above me
And I've been thinkin' about the doorbell
When they gonna ring it, when they gonna ring it?
Yeah, I've been thinkin' about the doorbell
When they gonna ring it, when they gonna ring it?
Oh, I've been thinkin' about the doorbell
When they gonna ring it, when they gonna ring it?
Yeah, I been thinkin' about the doorbell
Oh, well
They don't seem to come around
Push the finger and make a sound
They don't seem to come around
Maybe then, they'll knock 'em down?
Oh, well
Make a sound and I'll make you feel right
Right at home
Right at home
I'm thinkin' about the doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
I'm thinkin' about the doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about the doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I been thinkin' about my doorbell
And when you're gonna ring it, when you're gonna ring it?
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it?
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
Oh, oh well
I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it?
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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/
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.
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.
Jack White said in concert that this song is about an old man waiting for death. "I've got plenty of my own friends, they are all above me" "I've been thinking about my doorbell, when you gonna ring it, when you gonna ring it" that means he's waiting for death to take him away so he can join everyone else he knows but are now deceased.
Yeah? Well in French they refer to orgasm as "the little death."<br /> <br /> I still say it's sex.
"I got plenty of my own friends. They're all above me"
No reason, but could above mean heaven.
@oJUSTSKATEo Yeah, I think so. In fact I think the whole album is about faith.<br /> I think the line 'I've been going to mystery misses, I respect the art of the show'<br /> should read<br /> 'I've been going to mystery Masses, I respect the art of the show'<br /> I think this refers to Jack attending an old style Catholic Mass - a much more ornate affair than the modern Mass - and he 'respects the art of the show' ie he understands the importance of spectacle and image when presenting an idea.<br /> Or, No matter how good the idea; presentation augments.<br /> JW is an artist and one of his greatest muses is his Catholic faith; The Mass has been a great source of reflection, contemplation and inspiration for artists over generations from James Joyce to Salvador Dali and, within his milieu, I'd have to put JWs output close to these guys.<br /> <br /> So, yes, I think the 'friends above' refer to spiritual/religious figures.<br /> <br /> (PS - I have no idea why people think a great number of songs on Songmeanings - JW and otherwise - are about sex. I guess they are the people who arent actually getting any....)
My take is he and his woman got into a fight. Both said some things and it was a bad split. But, she's changing her mind and wants to get back together.
In the meantime, he's just waiting for her to come around. He's not going to go chasing after her but he wouldn't reject her if she came back.
My favorite line:
"Make a sound and I'll make you feel right"
(Just ring the doorbell and I'll let you in and it will all be good!)
My friends who, it seems, all have very sick minds laugh at this song, which is a bit irritating...I think its meant to be literal, not the euphemism (sp?)
Has anyone heard the really old song that goes " you can ring my bell ell ell ring my bell"?! Probably not..But yeah they tie in really well. I'm so happy that it's just not me and my dirty mind, but other people see it as sexual. I love how he refers to the woman as "little girl" and " make a sound and I'll make you feel right" Ha! I love you Jack!
Omg! What an amazingly funky song?! No idea what it's about though... any ideas?
Jack White is obviously a DIY enthusiast who has had some work done, including fitting a new doorbell. Unfortunately the local kids are hassling him and the words dictate his feelings as he sits and wonders "when you gonna ring it? When you gonna ring it?" - if it carries on he may well call the builders back in and have a high fence put around his mansion.
"I got plenty of my own friends They're all above me"
pretty obvisous conclusion but I think its about a guy waiting for a certain girl to ring his doorbell, or come to him. This is atleast what it feels like to me...
Haha, funny song. ;p
I love this song! It will become a success if ever released. I am actually addicted to this song.. :D I hope you lot like it too. On the 'Get Behind Me Satan' album, this song, blue orchid and red rain are by far the greatest songs. And i love this one the most..
Oh!, I guess this song will be released as a single, this song is stuck to me since I listened to it...