"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.
Sleep as the goer
The bridge that watches the light speed through
And cries while the spirit stumbles
The inside missile for the protection of you
Maybe it's silent
The voice can't bear anymore strain
But speaks without even knowing
And streams outside in the direction of truth
There's no reason there's no secrets to decode
If you can't save it, leave it dying on the road
Wide open arms can feel so cold
So cold
Feel so cold
Balance the books, the ledges, the loons
The disappointed look on the faces
That squint at the moon
Let's see it with shadows enhanced
And then vote to decide who'll advance
Silver jet plane, making a turn
Exciting the brain that expects it to crash and then burn
It's not the life lesson I'd've guessed
If you're conscious you must be depressed
Or at least cynical
But someone might still eat the steaks
Even if they're tough
Spending the day
Chewing the fat
Floating away isn't rough but it's not enough
Oh Marianne, pass me the joint
The sandpaper's tan
Go-getters are surfing the point
And London's a scratch on the lens
It's over before it begins
Silk 'round her neck falls down to her shoulders
The older I get, the more I suspect there's a trick
But really there's no trip at all
That doesn't result in a fall
Or a faltering
But something could spit out the bait
Even if it's real
Rolling away
Missing a spoke
Close to the ground like a wheel but it's not a joke
Holding the line
Clutching the phone
Nobly wasting the night, but it isn't right
It's not right
Smelling for blood
Praying for rain
Running away isn't rough, but it's not enough
The low tide is telling me, when it's over,
To breathe in everything exposed
And comes back to cover me with a blanket
Being here's always changing tunes
The empty sky surrounds me but I can't see at all
Wide open arms can feel so cold
And you can sit beside me and tell me what it's
Worth
But I hope I die before I get sold
I hope I die before I get sold
I'd rather die before I get sold
If you find the soul that you lost
Frozen in a starry void
Take it within and hope the sight of blood
Can will signs of life to return
Back to the way that it was
Long before it made a noise
To keep on quietly reminding you
What's never created or destroyed
Wake as the swell peaks
The close-outs drowning the birds with roars
And howls scare the new unkindness
That picks and laughs at the carrion scene
Forces you see breath can always go into hiding
And wait 'til it passes over
Or stay far gone for all eternity
The bridge that watches the light speed through
And cries while the spirit stumbles
The inside missile for the protection of you
Maybe it's silent
The voice can't bear anymore strain
But speaks without even knowing
And streams outside in the direction of truth
There's no reason there's no secrets to decode
If you can't save it, leave it dying on the road
Wide open arms can feel so cold
So cold
Feel so cold
Balance the books, the ledges, the loons
The disappointed look on the faces
That squint at the moon
Let's see it with shadows enhanced
And then vote to decide who'll advance
Silver jet plane, making a turn
Exciting the brain that expects it to crash and then burn
It's not the life lesson I'd've guessed
If you're conscious you must be depressed
Or at least cynical
But someone might still eat the steaks
Even if they're tough
Spending the day
Chewing the fat
Floating away isn't rough but it's not enough
Oh Marianne, pass me the joint
The sandpaper's tan
Go-getters are surfing the point
And London's a scratch on the lens
It's over before it begins
Silk 'round her neck falls down to her shoulders
The older I get, the more I suspect there's a trick
But really there's no trip at all
That doesn't result in a fall
Or a faltering
But something could spit out the bait
Even if it's real
Rolling away
Missing a spoke
Close to the ground like a wheel but it's not a joke
Holding the line
Clutching the phone
Nobly wasting the night, but it isn't right
It's not right
Smelling for blood
Praying for rain
Running away isn't rough, but it's not enough
The low tide is telling me, when it's over,
To breathe in everything exposed
And comes back to cover me with a blanket
Being here's always changing tunes
The empty sky surrounds me but I can't see at all
Wide open arms can feel so cold
And you can sit beside me and tell me what it's
Worth
But I hope I die before I get sold
I hope I die before I get sold
I'd rather die before I get sold
If you find the soul that you lost
Frozen in a starry void
Take it within and hope the sight of blood
Can will signs of life to return
Back to the way that it was
Long before it made a noise
To keep on quietly reminding you
What's never created or destroyed
Wake as the swell peaks
The close-outs drowning the birds with roars
And howls scare the new unkindness
That picks and laughs at the carrion scene
Forces you see breath can always go into hiding
And wait 'til it passes over
Or stay far gone for all eternity
Lyrics submitted by afternoontara, edited by jdprod20
Siberian Breaks Lyrics as written by Benjamin Nicholas Hunter Goldwasser Andrew Wells Vanwyngarden
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
This is a brilliant song and is the 'Tour de force' of Congratulations. Because MGMT worked very hard to make this a "concept album" it echoes many themes found in other tracks. It is ultimately about the ebb and flow of the creative process and the cold side of commercial success. Hence, surfing in Siberia is a very apt metaphor.
The mood of the music and the shifting tempo are as telling as the words.
The opening of the song is a gesture of dreamy withdrawal. It speaks of defense mechanisms kicking in and a backing away from sudden fame. On an optimistic note, even in this state the creative voice "streams" along "in the direction of truth."
sleep as the goer the bridge that watches the light speed thru and cries while the spirit stumbles the inside missile for the protection of you
maybe it's silent the voice can't bear anymore strain but speaks without even knowing and streams outside in the direction of truth
The next section starts with a revelation of sorts. Ultimately material success is meaningless and does not lead to true fulfillment. There is no larger reason. Andrew and Ben are not messiah's. Therefore the open arms of adoring fans, the recording industry, congratulatory friends, etc... feel strangely cold.
there's no reason there's no secret to decode if you can't save it, leave it dying on the road wide open arms can feel so cold so cold feel so cold
Tempo shift. The steady pulse of life pounds along. The shallow realities of American culture. Reality shows [vote to decide who'll advance]. Terrifying sensationalism [the terrible desire to see a plane crash]. The dark side of drug use [but really there's no trip at all, that doesn't result in a fall]. The trappings of success [nobly wasting the night, but it isn't right]. The desire to run (or "float") away and the inability to do so.
balance the books, the ledges, the loons the disappointed look on the faces that squint at the moon let's see it with shadows enhanced and then vote to decide who'll advance silver jet plane, making a turn exciting the brain that expects it to crash and then burn it's not the life lesson Id've guessed if you're conscious you must be depressed or at least cynical but someone might still eat the steaks even if they're tough spending the day chewing the fat floating away isn't rough but it's not enough oh Marianne, pass me the joint the sandpaper's tan go-getters are surfing the point and London's a scratch on the lens it's over before it begins silk round her neck falls down to her shoulders the older I get, the more I suspect there's a trick but really there's no trip at all that doesn't result in a fall or a faltering but something could spit out the bait even if it's real rolling away missing a spoke close to the ground like a wheel but it's not a joke holding the line clutching the phone nobly wasting the night, but it isn't right it's not right smelling for blood praying for rain running away isn't rough , but it's not enough
Tempo shift. The tides (which are always changing) swing back to the state of dreamy withdrawal we found at the beginning of the song. "I hope I die before I get sold" is both the expression of a very real desire to escape being packaged by the music industry and a very clever play the The Who lyric "I hope I die before I get old"
the low tide is telling me, when it's over, to breathe in everything exposed and comes back to cover me in a blanket being here's always changing tunes
the empty sky surrounds me but I can't see at all wide open arms can feel so cold and you can sit beside me and tell me what it's worth but I hope I die before I get sold I hope I die before I get sold I'd rather die before I get sold
Tempo shift. Fighting out of the withdrawn dream state and willing life back into the soul. Realizing that there is something inside that cannot be created or destroyed.
if you find the soul that you lost frozen in a starry void take it within and hope the sight of blood can will signs of life to return back to the way that it was long before it made a noise to keep on quietly reminding you what's never created or destroyed
Awake again. Creating again. But aware that the creative force (while it can't be destroyed) "can always go into hiding."
wake as the swell peaks the close-outs drowning the birds with roars and howls scare the new unkindness that picks and laughs at the carrion scene
forces you see breath can always go into hiding and wait til it passes over or stay far gone for all eternity
This is an abridged interpretation. The song is long enough that each line could be mulled over in lengthy fashion. It is really great to find a band and a lyricist that is engaged enough to strive for such a high level in this day of bubble gum pop and cheesy love ballads.
One last note. MGMT does not mean to look down their nose at drug use. After all its good fun. But as a dance band that earned their reputation on people taking ecstasy and getting down to tunes like "Electric Feel" they are striving for something larger. This is very evident to me in the opening track "It's Working" where they speak of a drug "working in your blood, but thats not the same as love -- love is only in your mind.
Love your interpretation. I was thinking the same thing about "It's Working" Lots of MGMT "fans" enjoyed their hit songs like electric feel, time to pretend and kids while tripping. and they "fell in love" with them, and now just hate their new CD. "It's working in your blood. but that's not the same as love" <br /> I think MGMT wanted to get away from all this fake fans, mass adullation, etc. with this album, and they are doing it indeed, which is great. I love Congratulations, there's no one single song that I dislike, which for me is totally new, i always skip songs with other artists, but no MGMT, they are pure magic to me
my friend i think you hit it on the nail.
i think getting sold means all drugs/plants stop working
I can't help but feel an incredibly cold sense of nostalgia when I listen to this song. But I can't figure out what I long for.
there's no reason there's no secret to decode
ME TOO, such a strange feeling. The only thing that came to mind for me was The Virgin Suicides soundtrack.
I also hear some Simon & Garfunkel
whoever posted this has amazing spelling
This song makes me reminisce, dream, and feel contempt. This song is everything... and let's leave it at that.
This one is definitely my favorite on Congratulations, so far. I haven't made any interpretations about it yet, personally. I catch some surfing references, obviously. Great song. Great band.
Holy shit mgmt knows what they fuck they're doing too bad nobody else does. This song is a unique masterpiece
The lines here are about a tsunami:
the low tide is telling me, when it's over, to breathe in everything exposed and comes back to cover me in a blanket being here's always changing tunes
To me, MGMT has become the new Pink Floyd.
This song is a masterpiece in that while it does discuss their withdrawals from commercial success and drug use (or glorification of drug use), it can be applied to our lives as well. I definitely think this is the best song on the album.
I wouldn't go as far as to say they're the new Pink Floyd, but they are definitely on their way, especially with this, which can aptly be described with the word "epic"
i love this song so much. it evocates the ecsense of a dream the way it starts with "sleep as the goer" and ends with "wake as the swell peaks" it's so awesome. "silk round her neck falls down to her shoulder" such bright and realistic imagery, it also reminds me of the lyric in metanoia "Save me some dark hair over a face like hers She'll help the rain come to a pour" its just such a great song
This isn't about the lyrics but about the song in general. Essentially it's 3 songs stitched together. Well it could be seen as that - there are distinct stops. But I think the point about having this monolith 12 minute song in the middle is to emphasise the fact that this album has so much to offer. If it were 3 separate "sensibly" lengthed songs it would be easy to skip them and not engage with them. This song is like a symbol for the whole album. It needs listening. In the age of spotify and music downloads at our fingertips it's so easy to not engage in music and just take the music for what you expect from it. You want 3 minutes, you want the chorus to repeat, you don't want to be surprised. But it's like a kid who wants sweets but his parents give him vegetables. This album is good for you in the end. And that's why I love it. ANYWAY, sorry about that.
Awesome song