"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 was your boyfriend when we were 15, it's the happiest that I've ever been
Even though we didn't understand how to do much more than just hold hands
There's so much about you I miss, the clumsy way we used to kiss
I wish I'd convinced you you'd made a mistake, if memory serves we're still on a break
Other girls went and other girls came, I can't get over my old flame
I'm still in love with, Emily Kane
Every girl I've seen since looks just like you when I squint
I know you said it's for the best, I still don't understand why you left
There's so much about you I miss, every time I see a couple kiss
I hope this song finds you fame, I want school kids on busses singing your name
Other girls went and other girls came, I can't get over my old flame
I'm still in love with, Emily Kane
I don't even know where she lives
I've not seen her in ten years, nine months, three weeks
Four days, six hours, thirteen minutes, five seconds
Other girls went and other girls came, I can't get over my old flame
All my friends think I'm insane, I'm still in love with Emily Kane
There's a beast in my soul that can't be tamed, I'm still in love with Emily Kane
I thought I'd never love again, I'm still in love with Emily Kane
The torch I hold is always a flame, I'm still in love with Emily Kane
I hope this song finds you fame, I want school kids on busses singing your name
All my friends think I'm insane, I'm still in love with Emily Kane
Emily Kane, Emily Kane, Emily Kane
Even though we didn't understand how to do much more than just hold hands
There's so much about you I miss, the clumsy way we used to kiss
I wish I'd convinced you you'd made a mistake, if memory serves we're still on a break
Other girls went and other girls came, I can't get over my old flame
I'm still in love with, Emily Kane
Every girl I've seen since looks just like you when I squint
I know you said it's for the best, I still don't understand why you left
There's so much about you I miss, every time I see a couple kiss
I hope this song finds you fame, I want school kids on busses singing your name
Other girls went and other girls came, I can't get over my old flame
I'm still in love with, Emily Kane
I don't even know where she lives
I've not seen her in ten years, nine months, three weeks
Four days, six hours, thirteen minutes, five seconds
Other girls went and other girls came, I can't get over my old flame
All my friends think I'm insane, I'm still in love with Emily Kane
There's a beast in my soul that can't be tamed, I'm still in love with Emily Kane
I thought I'd never love again, I'm still in love with Emily Kane
The torch I hold is always a flame, I'm still in love with Emily Kane
I hope this song finds you fame, I want school kids on busses singing your name
All my friends think I'm insane, I'm still in love with Emily Kane
Emily Kane, Emily Kane, Emily Kane
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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.
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.
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.
I can tell the exact moment I fell in love with Art Brut... I was listening to this song for the first time (I was already familiar with Formed a Band and Direct Hit)... And the lyrics in the verses are nice but nothing special... and then comes the C-part: "I don't even know where she lives I haven't seen her in ten years" (once again, quite obvious lyrics) {pause} "Nine months, three weeks... " This is where this song got amazing, I suddenly had a big smile, and suddenly I understood what this band was all about!
(By the way, Morrissey also does this exact counting in the Smiths' Had No One Ever, but differently of course...)
SO GOD DAMN ENGLISH GOOD.
me and my sister were the 'school kids on busses singing your name' the other day.
Goofy, reminds me of myself.
Goofy, reminds me of myself.
this song is super cheesy but its really good.
Best line EVER:
"Every girl that I've seen since Looks just like you--- when I squint."
sweet : ]
Everyone remains in love with their first girlfriend (or boyfriend) and this song captures it perfectly.
i love this song! i love his english accent. its amazing.