"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.
Suddenly lost inside a fantasy
Everything not quite what it seems to be
Slipping and falling through the looking glass
Catching a glimpse at all that lies behind the masks
You disappear with the dawn
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey (prey, prey, prey)
When you're out with the birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
Taking the blue pill only made you cry
And all that the red pill did was make you forget why
There is no right, there's no wrong
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
You disappear with the dawn
You only see what you want
There is no right, there's no wrong
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
Everything not quite what it seems to be
Slipping and falling through the looking glass
Catching a glimpse at all that lies behind the masks
You disappear with the dawn
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey (prey, prey, prey)
When you're out with the birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
Taking the blue pill only made you cry
And all that the red pill did was make you forget why
There is no right, there's no wrong
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
You disappear with the dawn
You only see what you want
There is no right, there's no wrong
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
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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
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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.
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.
It seems like she is talking about hanging and trying to fit in with a crowd that doesn't give a sh*t about anyone but themselves. They are out to devour anyone who they think is weaker than them, hence, "birds of prey."
You think they are great at first-- "you only see what you want."
But then you realize they don't care about you and they just take advantage of you-- "they bite as you bleed."
Maybe? That's my interpretation of it.
That's how I see it. Hanging out with the people that are just bad for you.
That's how I see it too. And it happened to me. Now I like the song much more.
That's how I see it too. And it happened to me, so I love the song much more now.
This song has several meanings for me, I do agree with the take that it's about peer pressure.
More in depth, it's about experiencing something that we perceive as immoral, while the song tells that it only depends on your perspective, because in essence ={Slipping and falling through the looking glass--living it instead of observing-- Catching a glimpse at all that lies behind the masks--seeing the realness behind appearances--} the experience is amoral, just like instincts. This song gives me a feel of sin, and also animal tendencies (not related to spirit), thus carnal impulses.
It makes me think of vultures. (This actually happened.) A vulture will sense a dying creature and it will shadow it, and jump at it at its weakest or mortal phase. Even if it is a child. (search: African+child+vulture+photo) {They watch, feed, take what they need, bite as you bleed}
I also see it as a metaphor for real people such as people among the peer pressure, and even inner demons such as tendencies that drive us to indulge uncontrollably but I don't want too go spiritual, because it's a bit more far fetched. There are people who can cause us to self destruct, and these can also be our birds of prey.
The blue pill allows us to remain in our default stage--being of innocence, discontent, or whatever. The red pill is the pill of "hyper" consciousness. It frees you from remorse or morality, you're disconnected to your solid lines between right and wrong, just like the drunker some people get, the blurrier their reasoning becomes. So you start acting more by impulses {you only see what you want}.
In conclusion, the abstract lyrics make me think of the birds of prey as vultures, peer pressure, narcotics (being under the influence--alcohol included), and simply doing something that is extremely out of your element be it excessive laziness, pleasuring activities, or means to an end (fame, fortune, etc...).
I think this song has a very spiritual vibe to it. The birds of prey are people who can manipulate, control, and prey on you. When you're with them, you are blinded and only see what you want to see, there is no right or wrong, things are blurred. This song has a few occult/MK Ultra themes to it mentioning being lost in a fantasty, falling through the looking glass (Alice In Wonderland), masks, red pill/blue pill (Matrix - waking up to the truth of our reality). In my opinion, she wrote this song about those in control of the music industry and people of that nature. If you don't know what I'm talking about look up the occult symbols and mind control/MK Ultra themes in music (even Christina's). Look up the website Vigilant Citizen. It's a good place to start.
So pretty, I'm not sure what this is about though, making decisions- bad choices, with a bad crowd?
I think is about psychiatric disorders and their drugs, or maybe pain killers. For example "Taking the blue pill only made you cry And all that the red pill did was make you forget why" I think the blue pill are the anti-depressant and the red is for anxiety. For example the slang for barbiturates includes "reds" and are prescribed to ease anxiety or promote sleep.
"Suddenly lost inside a fantasy" maybe a pill side effect, drowsiness, euphoria and impaired judgment.
For me "birds of prey" are the self-destructive thoughts, that can appear in anxiety, depression, schizophrenia.
This is just my opinion but I get the impression is about Christina's fame and her relationship with the paparazzi, the paparazzi being the birds of prey.