"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'm free to be whatever I
Whatever I choose, and I'll sing the blues if I want
I'm free to say whatever I
Whatever I like, if it's wrong or right, it's alright
Always seems to me
You only see what people want you to see
How long's it gonna be
Before we get on the bus and cause no fuss
Get a grip on yourself, it don't cost much
Free to be whatever you
Whatever you say, if it comes my way, it's alright
You're free to be wherever you
Wherever you please, you can shoot the breeze if you want
It always seems to me
You only see what people want you to see
How long's it gonna be
Before we get on the bus and cause no fuss
Get a grip on yourself, it don't cost much
Free to be whatever I
Whatever I choose, and I'll sing the blues if I want
Here in my mind
You know you might find
Something that you
You thought you once knew
But now it's all gone
And you know it's no fun
Yeah, I know it's no fun
Oh, I know it's no fun
I'm free to be whatever I
Whatever I choose, and I'll sing the blues if I want
I'm free to be whatever I
Whatever I choose, and I'll sing the blues if I want
Whatever you do, whatever you say
I know it's alright
Whatever you do, whatever you say
I know it's alright
Whatever I choose, and I'll sing the blues if I want
I'm free to say whatever I
Whatever I like, if it's wrong or right, it's alright
Always seems to me
You only see what people want you to see
How long's it gonna be
Before we get on the bus and cause no fuss
Get a grip on yourself, it don't cost much
Free to be whatever you
Whatever you say, if it comes my way, it's alright
You're free to be wherever you
Wherever you please, you can shoot the breeze if you want
It always seems to me
You only see what people want you to see
How long's it gonna be
Before we get on the bus and cause no fuss
Get a grip on yourself, it don't cost much
Free to be whatever I
Whatever I choose, and I'll sing the blues if I want
Here in my mind
You know you might find
Something that you
You thought you once knew
But now it's all gone
And you know it's no fun
Yeah, I know it's no fun
Oh, I know it's no fun
I'm free to be whatever I
Whatever I choose, and I'll sing the blues if I want
I'm free to be whatever I
Whatever I choose, and I'll sing the blues if I want
Whatever you do, whatever you say
I know it's alright
Whatever you do, whatever you say
I know it's alright
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
i love this song so much i love the way that when most bands get emotional in an upset way oasis are like "im gonna be how i want and not what you want me to be.im gnna follow my dreams and thats rockn roll" i just love the optimism in their songs and this along with rock n roll star and roll with it is probably the best example of that
LONG LIVE THE GALLAGHERS!!!!!!
I remember watching an Oasis interview a couple months back. One of the questions the interviewer asked Noel was what this song was about. He said when he was younger his dad used to beat him and his older brother for having a stammer. He said that as Liam never had to suffer the stammer and his dad beating him - that him and his older brother found Liam so inspirational and carefree. So this song is about how Liam always had a sort of positive outlook on life as he was a sort of free spirit.
I think this is one of the three best Oasis songs there is (Don't Look Back In Anger and Live Forever are the only ones in its league I think.)
Really good song to get you in a better mood... "whatever you do, whatever you say, I know it's alright."
This is the best song of oasis !!! I really like how noel change the last line. Once on mtv performance he sings "All the young dudes carry the years" And on the 10th years oasis he put the beatles song octopus garden "I would like to be, under the sea, with an octopuses garden inthe sea" Its basicly the same chords, what a genius!!! I guess not so many ppl know this song. Noel didnt put it in definitely maybe coz they didnt have the budget to pay the orchestra. Thats why they put it on a single after they got the money from selling the 1st album. Too bad eh. Ppl usually just know oasis and its wonderwall.
I think this song is one of the best ever. It's so beautiful, it doesnt have many diferent lyrics but its still brilliant. Best Oasis song ever - no problem. Its a shame its not on an album.
As far as the sound of this song, it definately has a different sound than most of their other output. For some reason it always brings "All the Young Dudes" to mind with a touch of Lennon in that bridge where Liam's voice becomes hollow sounding and the line "Before we get on the bus and cause no fuss" brings The La's "Doledrum" to mind. That's what I love about Oasis, they remind you of old friends by paying homage to them in this way. There is nothing really original about Oasis but they sure have combined all the best elements of British rock and done it right and that's why they are one of my favs.
There is an actual hidden meaning to the song. It was a song Noel wrote before he joined Oasis, His dad wanted him to follow him into working alongside him but Noel didnt want to, he wanted to join Liams band.
This song is so Mega, best Oasis song eva hands down. We love the bit where it does that thing. Sound
I agree with BO, great song, i think it's quite obvious what it means no hiden meaning.
What album is this on??? I have an old recording of this from 1997 radio, but can't find anywhere else... sigh :(