"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.
While you read to me from the right, act way on high, high
Clutching a crisp New Testament, breathing fire, fire
Will you save me the fake benevolence, I don't have time, I'm
Just too far gone for a-tellin', lost my pride, I don't mind
Being holy, so leave me alone
Aw, you're acting all holy, me, I'm just full of holes
Well I can dip my head in the river
Cleanse my soul, oh
I'll still have the stomach of a sinner
Face like an unholy ghost
Will you save me all the soliloquies
Paid my fines, I'll be
Gone before my deliverance
Preach what you write, 'cause I don't mind
Being holy, so leave me alone
You're acting all holy,
Me, I'm just full of holes, full of holes
Don't mind being lonely, so spare me the brimstone
Acting all holy, when you know I'm full of holes
Don't mind being lonely, don't need to be told
Stop acting so holy,
I know I'm full of holes, full of holes
I don't mind being lonely, so leave me alone
Are you, oh, so holy, that I'll never be good enough
Don't care if I'm lonely, 'cause it feels like home
I won't ever be holy, thank God I'm full of holes, full of holes
Clutching a crisp New Testament, breathing fire, fire
Will you save me the fake benevolence, I don't have time, I'm
Just too far gone for a-tellin', lost my pride, I don't mind
Being holy, so leave me alone
Aw, you're acting all holy, me, I'm just full of holes
Well I can dip my head in the river
Cleanse my soul, oh
I'll still have the stomach of a sinner
Face like an unholy ghost
Will you save me all the soliloquies
Paid my fines, I'll be
Gone before my deliverance
Preach what you write, 'cause I don't mind
Being holy, so leave me alone
You're acting all holy,
Me, I'm just full of holes, full of holes
Don't mind being lonely, so spare me the brimstone
Acting all holy, when you know I'm full of holes
Don't mind being lonely, don't need to be told
Stop acting so holy,
I know I'm full of holes, full of holes
I don't mind being lonely, so leave me alone
Are you, oh, so holy, that I'll never be good enough
Don't care if I'm lonely, 'cause it feels like home
I won't ever be holy, thank God I'm full of holes, full of holes
Lyrics submitted by mariri, edited by simpep, virtuallypainless
Holy Lyrics as written by David William Lawrence Kennedy Andy Monaghan
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
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/
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
A somewhat rebellious rejection of religion and evangelic preachers.
To me its about a guy who has given up on love, while people constantly tells him to find a partner. They are acting all holy, tells him about the greatness of marriage, and try to pressure him. But he knows he is broken, 'full of holes', 'not good enough', so he is not ready. Loneliness has felt like home and he is glad he's single and not like them, sucked in relationships. Btw: I love the slow alternate version of this song!
doesn't necessary have to be a religious song in the common sence. maybe he uses it as a metaphor. telling someone or a group of people, that he doesn't wanna act as if he is all perfect and "holy". he doesn't want to "preach" to other people, as in telling them what to do better and what is best for them. he accepts who he is and stands by it. minding his own business in that subject. ...but annoyed with the people who have to act like they're holy and know everything better.
This song is about two people in a relationship, as are many FR songs. He's talking about how someone wants these things (new testament) and is being 'nice' to get them (fake benevolence). Because he's still in this shit of a relationship, he's lost his pride. He wants to be alone, and is cynically saying that everything he does is wrong whilst everything his partner does is perfect and holy. Regardless of what he does, however, he will always have this part of him that is "a sinner" and he can't escape this, but he still wants to get out, despite how damaged he is. He wants to be "spared the brimstone" and doesn't want to kick up a fuss, he just wants out and to be alone and happy for a while.
The lyrics reminds me of an uncle approaching me at my cousin's wedding inquiring as to why I haven't gotten married yet, and why my sisters haven't married yet either? He's quite certain there is something wrong with us, and we must be "bad catholics" for it. When honestly, it's none of his business or concern. I know I am not perfect, but nor is he. Have I made some "bad decisions?"... definitely. But we should be able to make our own choices in life for our own reasons. And maybe it's not conforming to what others might expect of us - or what our religion might expect - but life's short and ultimately we should do what makes us happy.
The song speaks to me on a personal level too. I'm in a long term relationship and I'm perfectly happy with my life, but I love nothing more than spending time on my own, I treasure being with myself. People seem to find it so strange.
"Don't care if I'm lonely, 'Cos it feels like home." - that about sums it up. I never feel more popular than when I'm alone.
I know it's strictly not official meaning, but it speaks to me in that way.
This song is sung from the perspective of a man who is fed up with his relationship. He believes that his partner has put herself on a pedestal and instead of accepting him for who he is, is now preaching that he must become something else more like her expectations.
The singer is stating that he can never be that person, as he is full of holes and she knows that. He says he would rather be alone than around someone who can't/won't accept him- "I don't mind being lonely, so leave me alone. stop acting so holy, when you know I'm full of holes".
At the end, in final fuck off to his partner, the singer relishes the flawed person he is, states he can never be what she wants, and embraces his holes. "I won't ever be holy, thank god I'm full of holes"