"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.
Your picture
Is still
On my wall
On my wall
The colors
Are bright
Bright
As ever
Red is strong
Blue is true
Some things last a long time
Some things last a long time
Is still
On my wall
On my wall
The colors
Are bright
Bright
As ever
Red is strong
Blue is true
Some things last a long time
Some things last a long time
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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”
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
correct me if im wrong but....Daniel Johnston, the writer of the song, has been in love with a girl named laura all his life but he is not with her. She was a very old friend that he never had the chance to be in a real relationship with. Most of his songs are about her but she has declined to be with him. He doesnt and hasnt had contact with her in a looong time. Many of his songs about love are about laura and are written hopelessly long after the fact. It helps to know this to understand the lyrics. Both versions of the song strike a deep chord in me. It portrays a deep everlasting love for someone, long after the hope of being with them is gone. The picture the song describes is arguably the last image the speaker has in his/her head of the one they love and lost (like the last time they saw them). The love the speaker has is still so strong, even long after the fact, that the picture is still as bright and clear and on the same spot on his/her wall as it always has been. Time and hopelessness have not degraded the love at all. The tragic irony is that it isnt the love BETWEEN the people that lasts a long time, but the speakers own unrequited feelings. It ironically and sadly clashes against the cliche of mutual love lasting a long time. Ah, its really beyond words, it is just so purely true and tragic.
her name was laurie and he was INFATUATED with Laurie whom he met at art school. pretty beautiful song, the original can NEVER be matched. EVER.<br /> Daniel Johnston such a misunderstood genius
Ciarac captured very well the essence of the song though <br /> And I think the explanation is well described because it is often difficult to put words on what you feel when you hear this song.<br /> <br /> I do prefer the original by Daniel Johnston by far as well
The lyrics are pretty simple, but still meaningful. I feel like I don't understand the entire meaning of "red is strong, blue is true," maybe someone has some insight on that? This makes me think of one of my best friends who lives halfway across the country--we're so close even though we don't see each other all the time, but we know that "some things last a long time," and our friendship is one of them. Also, I feel like the music just augments the lyrics; without that beautiful melody it just wouldn't be as meaningful.
This song was actually written by Jad Fair (credit where credit is due), with music and performance by Daniel, as mentioned above, on "1990"--which is an amazing album. So that kind of changes any Daniel-centric interpretations of the song qua original form, though that is not to say it loses any meaning with Daniel. Laura actually wound up marrying an undertaker, which is a fact that makes much of Daniel's more understandable if you're trying to interpret it. This is an enjoyable cover though. Legrand sure has some pipes and Scally's arrangements on the album are very nice.
I don't know any other band that has made so few words sound so complete.
i agree. it's almost too bad it's so short, because it has some of the best instrumentation of the record. its the most different instrumentation out of the whole cd. it's pretty dark. i love it.
It's a Daniel Johnston cover.
I couldn't find Johnston's version.. but I found Built to Spill's version made in 1996. Crazy
It's on the album "1990"
infinitely better than johnston's.
let's face it, that dude's voice is awful. and the original is entirely too long.
Dude, you don't know shit about Daniel Johnston.
i cant believe you just made that comment. What planet do you live on! Watch The Devil and Daniel Johnston and you'll take back everything you just said. Daniel isnt a great musician nor an amazing singer, but thats not his appeal, hes a GENIUS! absolute innocent genius who creates this unbelievable songs! your comment is SO ignorant.