"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.
Rotterdam, goddamn
This starving go against
And then tar mulling up the opposed modernity
And I heard them scream
We are many, we are many, we are
And in the Hague, I did proclaim
'Cause then I'll find god in the gutter
You'll catch the dead and bury them with old words
When the hours begin to flee I will sing
Recover me
We are many
We are many
We are dust
We are many
We are many
We are dust
Into dust we will all return
Oh I, whole night, I heard you sing
Only dreamers, dead times, and dirty kings
Oh I, whole night, I heard you sing
O death, where is thy sting?
Does it feed on eager limbs?
How will the body know?
I was caught in the eye with a nightingale
Hold the water, let it burn
Some lives may dig deep but my cold crime is clean
If I show you my hands, will you carry the beast?
We are many
We are many
We are dust
Into dust we will all return
This starving go against
And then tar mulling up the opposed modernity
And I heard them scream
We are many, we are many, we are
And in the Hague, I did proclaim
'Cause then I'll find god in the gutter
You'll catch the dead and bury them with old words
When the hours begin to flee I will sing
Recover me
We are many
We are many
We are dust
We are many
We are many
We are dust
Into dust we will all return
Oh I, whole night, I heard you sing
Only dreamers, dead times, and dirty kings
Oh I, whole night, I heard you sing
O death, where is thy sting?
Does it feed on eager limbs?
How will the body know?
I was caught in the eye with a nightingale
Hold the water, let it burn
Some lives may dig deep but my cold crime is clean
If I show you my hands, will you carry the beast?
We are many
We are many
We are dust
Into dust we will all return
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Sounds very biblical. "We are dust, and to dust we shall all return."
There's a line in the Bible similar to it...
Genesis 3:19
"By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return."
I'm not sure if there is a connection, although it definitely feels like there is!