"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 won't try to bring you down about my suicide
Got no need to understand about my big surprise
Oh I am falling through the sky
You remember this?
I am falling in their eyes
You remember the kiss?
I won't try to bring you down about my suicide
Got no need to understand about my big surprise
I won't beg to hang you up about my love of life
If you promise not to sing about the reasons why
I am writing you a letter
Getting better
Can I see you?
When,
All the lights go out together
Blame the weather
Yeah the cold again
In the darkness for a second
I am sure I see them smiling then
I feel them calling me
Yeah they are calling me
And I am falling through the stars
You remember now?
Yeah I am falling in their arms
You remember how?
Oh I am falling through the sky
You remember this ?
I am falling in their eyes
You remember the kiss?
I won't try to pull you in about my sacrifice
Makes no sense to get upset about the other side
I won't beg to put you out about my right to die
If you promise not to sing about the reasons why
I am calling you at midnight
Feeling alright, can I tell you?
When?
On the line no sound but my words
Must be night birds on the wire again
In the silence for a second
I am sure I hear them laughing then
I feel them calling me
Yeah they are calling me
I am falling through the stars
You remember now
Yeah, I am falling in their arms
You remember how
I am falling through the sky
You remember this
I am falling in their eyes
You remember the kiss
"We know"
They said
"You're holding on
To nothing left of something gone"
"We know"
They said
"In letting go
Of fear and dread
And all you know
You'll lose the need of certainty
And make-believe eternity
To find the true reality
In beautiful infinity"
But I won't try to bring you down about my suicide
If you promise not to sing about the reasons why
Got no need to understand about my big surprise
Oh I am falling through the sky
You remember this?
I am falling in their eyes
You remember the kiss?
I won't try to bring you down about my suicide
Got no need to understand about my big surprise
I won't beg to hang you up about my love of life
If you promise not to sing about the reasons why
I am writing you a letter
Getting better
Can I see you?
When,
All the lights go out together
Blame the weather
Yeah the cold again
In the darkness for a second
I am sure I see them smiling then
I feel them calling me
Yeah they are calling me
And I am falling through the stars
You remember now?
Yeah I am falling in their arms
You remember how?
Oh I am falling through the sky
You remember this ?
I am falling in their eyes
You remember the kiss?
I won't try to pull you in about my sacrifice
Makes no sense to get upset about the other side
I won't beg to put you out about my right to die
If you promise not to sing about the reasons why
I am calling you at midnight
Feeling alright, can I tell you?
When?
On the line no sound but my words
Must be night birds on the wire again
In the silence for a second
I am sure I hear them laughing then
I feel them calling me
Yeah they are calling me
I am falling through the stars
You remember now
Yeah, I am falling in their arms
You remember how
I am falling through the sky
You remember this
I am falling in their eyes
You remember the kiss
"We know"
They said
"You're holding on
To nothing left of something gone"
"We know"
They said
"In letting go
Of fear and dread
And all you know
You'll lose the need of certainty
And make-believe eternity
To find the true reality
In beautiful infinity"
But I won't try to bring you down about my suicide
If you promise not to sing about the reasons why
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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/
Don't get me wrong, I love the Cure but has it ever passed your mind that maybe they kinda worship the devil and when they say "I am falling through the sky" that their trying to be as demons? Also with the sacrifice part.
@bleekerface Not sure about the other Curesters, but Robert Smith is an atheist, and has been for a very long time. (He was raised Catholic.) I strongly doubt that he believes in the supernatural, whether good or evil (or neutral, for that matter). Check out the song "Where the Birds Always Sing" if you doubt me. The lines in this one, "You'll lose the need of certainty/and make-believe eternity" might also imply that suicide could be a way of rejecting religion in general, and the idea of an afterlife in particular. Your so-called "soul" doesn't outlive your body, of course, but you become, in some weird sense, one with the universe — "beautiful infinity" — just a bunch of atoms, floating through infinity, no longer having to worry about keeping all those cells and things together and working properly (not to mention pesky stuff like combing your hair and keeping your nails trimmed <g>). I often find myself forgetting that Smith never graduated from university, because so much of his poetry comes across as very intellectual.<br /> <br /> Smith has also suffered from depression, so It's not hard to imagine that even while grieving over the death of a young person (in '87 Smith would have been about 28), he could empathise with the fan who wrote the suicide note.<br /> <br /> I love the "They are calling me" parts, although I confess, this bit often gets me weepy. It's just too...familiar. At one point when I was in my 20s I almost felt like I was cursed because so many people I was close to had died. "Yeah: they are calling me." It suggests to me a young person who has many close friends who have died — suicides, ODs or accidents caused by being f***ed-up on drugs, or just ruining their health with junk food, drugs, unprotected sex and/or needle-sharing,, etc.<br /> <br /> The part about the kiss gets me confused. Any clue there?