"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 wouldn't wanna be anybody else, hey
You made me insecure
Told me I wasn't good enough
But who are you to judge
When you're a diamond in the rough?
I'm sure you got some things
You'd like to change about yourself
But when it comes to me
I wouldn't want to be anybody else
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
I'm no beauty queen
I'm just beautiful me
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
You've got every right
To a beautiful life
Come on
Who says?
Who says you're not perfect?
Who says you're not worth it?
Who says you're the only one that's hurting?
Trust me
That's the price of beauty
Who says you're not pretty?
Who says you're not beautiful?
Who says?
It's such a funny thing
How nothing's funny when it's you
You tell 'em what you mean
But they keep whiting out the truth
It's like a work of art
That never gets to see the light
Keep you beneath the stars
Won't let you touch the sky
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
I'm no beauty queen
I'm just beautiful me
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
You've got every right
To a beautiful life
C'mon
Who says?
Who says you're not perfect?
Who says you're not worth it?
Who says you're the only one that's hurting?
Trust me
That's the price of beauty
Who says you're not pretty?
Who says you're not beautiful?
Who says?
Who says?
Who says you're not star potential?
Who says you're not presidential?
Who says you can't be in movies?
Listen to me, listen to me
Who says you don't pass the test?
Who says you can't be the best?
Who said, who said?
Would you tell me who said that?
Yeah
Who said?
Who says?
Who says you're not perfect?
Who says you're not worth it?
Who says you're the only one that's hurting?
Trust me
That's the price of beauty
Who says you're not pretty?
Who says (who said) you're not beautiful?
(I'm just beautiful me) who says?
Who says you're not perfect?
Who says you're not worth it?
Who says you're the only one that's hurting?
Trust me
That's the price of beauty
Who says you're not pretty?
Who says you're not beautiful?
Who says?
You made me insecure
Told me I wasn't good enough
But who are you to judge
When you're a diamond in the rough?
I'm sure you got some things
You'd like to change about yourself
But when it comes to me
I wouldn't want to be anybody else
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
I'm no beauty queen
I'm just beautiful me
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
You've got every right
To a beautiful life
Come on
Who says?
Who says you're not perfect?
Who says you're not worth it?
Who says you're the only one that's hurting?
Trust me
That's the price of beauty
Who says you're not pretty?
Who says you're not beautiful?
Who says?
It's such a funny thing
How nothing's funny when it's you
You tell 'em what you mean
But they keep whiting out the truth
It's like a work of art
That never gets to see the light
Keep you beneath the stars
Won't let you touch the sky
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
I'm no beauty queen
I'm just beautiful me
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na
You've got every right
To a beautiful life
C'mon
Who says?
Who says you're not perfect?
Who says you're not worth it?
Who says you're the only one that's hurting?
Trust me
That's the price of beauty
Who says you're not pretty?
Who says you're not beautiful?
Who says?
Who says?
Who says you're not star potential?
Who says you're not presidential?
Who says you can't be in movies?
Listen to me, listen to me
Who says you don't pass the test?
Who says you can't be the best?
Who said, who said?
Would you tell me who said that?
Yeah
Who said?
Who says?
Who says you're not perfect?
Who says you're not worth it?
Who says you're the only one that's hurting?
Trust me
That's the price of beauty
Who says you're not pretty?
Who says (who said) you're not beautiful?
(I'm just beautiful me) who says?
Who says you're not perfect?
Who says you're not worth it?
Who says you're the only one that's hurting?
Trust me
That's the price of beauty
Who says you're not pretty?
Who says you're not beautiful?
Who says?
Lyrics submitted by Breakingbenjaminfan
Who Says Lyrics as written by Priscilla Renea Hamilton Emanuel S. Kiriakou
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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
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."
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,
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This is my happy song. :) It's amazing and makes me feel so good about myself. <3
its to her fans that are insecure!!! and that my dearies is a fact!!!!!
@selenagomezz exactly
I like this song a lot. It's a lot less shallow than a lot of Disney songs these days. It reminds me of a more pop version of India Arie's "Video".
Obviously a guy or someone else called her some name (ugly or something) and she doesn't care because she's confident in herself.
I love this song- it's not only a catchy, feel-good song, but the lyrics are awesome. Selena Gomez is so talented!(:
When I hear this song I almost cried. It reminds me I'm good the way I am, even if I don't like what I see I'm perfect they way I am.
It's a somewhat cliched message that is rarely gone about the right way and made truly believable but Selena is truly a thoughtful and gracious person who truly believes this of people. This song actually makes me feel better about myself which is amazing and usually I don't "buy in" to pretty people telling me that I too am beautiful but this lacks the cliche in that you feel she is referring to more than outward beauty which is obviously not as important but also that it's okay to know you have something attractive about you as well no matter who you are.
its about when she got bullied at school, telling everyone their beautiful and not to take notice of people criticising you to help people getting through being bullied and not standing up for it if you are!
its about when she got bullied at school, telling everyone their beautiful and not to take notice of people criticising you to help people getting through being bullied and not standing up for it if you are!
This song is about accepting who you are and the fact that you are beautiful in your own way no matter what ANYONE tries to say about it. Love yourself everyday, unconditionally. Sometimes it is hard, but trust me, you are worth it! =]
Who says you’re not star potential? Who says you’re not presidential? Who says you can’t be in movies? Listen to me, listen to me Who says you don’t pass the test? Who says you can’t be the best? Who said, who said? Won’t you tell me who said that? Yeah, who said <-- I like that part