"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.
It's not in the way that you hold me
It's not in the way you say you care
It's not in the way you've been treating my friends
It's not in the way that you stayed 'til the end
It's not in the way you look or the things that you say that you'll do
Hold the line, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa
Hold the line, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa
It's not in the words that you told me, girl
It's not in the way you say you're mine, ooh
It's not in the way that you came back to me
It's not in the way that your love set me free
It's not in the way you look or the things that you say that you'll do
Hold the line, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa
Hold the line, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa
It's not in the words that you told me
It's not in the way you say you're mine, ooh
It's not in the way that you came back to me
It's not in the way that your love set me free
It's not in the way you look or the things that you say that you'll do
Hold the line, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa
Hold the line, love isn't always on time
Love isn't always on time
Hold the line, love isn't always on time
Love isn't always, love isn't always on time
Hold the line, love isn't always on time
Love isn't always on time
Love isn't always on time
Love isn't always on time
Whoa whoa whoa
It's not in the way you say you care
It's not in the way you've been treating my friends
It's not in the way that you stayed 'til the end
It's not in the way you look or the things that you say that you'll do
Hold the line, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa
Hold the line, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa
It's not in the words that you told me, girl
It's not in the way you say you're mine, ooh
It's not in the way that you came back to me
It's not in the way that your love set me free
It's not in the way you look or the things that you say that you'll do
Hold the line, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa
Hold the line, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa
It's not in the words that you told me
It's not in the way you say you're mine, ooh
It's not in the way that you came back to me
It's not in the way that your love set me free
It's not in the way you look or the things that you say that you'll do
Hold the line, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa
Hold the line, love isn't always on time
Love isn't always on time
Hold the line, love isn't always on time
Love isn't always, love isn't always on time
Hold the line, love isn't always on time
Love isn't always on time
Love isn't always on time
Love isn't always on time
Whoa whoa whoa
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
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.
Anybody ever been in a relationship with a great person, it looked like a keeper on paper, yet...it just wasn't destined to work out? One person is a little more eager/desperate than the other one to stay in a relationship that is going nowhere. The other person is good-looking, smart, kind, has a good job, is responsible with their money, generous, and best of all likes you. But the mix just doesn't turn into a real committed love. So, you "hold the line", an expression used in military and football, meaning don't give up and keep trying. That's what this song is about.
btw, if you have been around long enough, you have been on both sides of this situation. It always ends a little sadly, but my experience is to let it go before the good feelings turn completely to resentment and frustration. Love, indeed, isn't always on time.
That was brilliantly stated...loved this! Sad but true
You my friend, have your way with words.
@JayCeezy Perfect! This is my current situation. I have a man who is all but in love with me. I am not there. I think he's amazing. He's wonderful. And "it all looks great on paper" but my heart isn't there. I am not in love with him and don't feel I am even close to it. And yes, I have been on the other side. In love with him and on paper, we did look great. But he wasn't in love with me the same way.
@JayCeezy yes been there, done that. It didn't end too pretty most of the time. I would say my husband and I did this when we first got together though, so I would say it did finally work in the end but we both at least knew that the other was smitten and so were we. That was the difference. Sometimes love can be complicated and holding the line during the rough patches has worked out so far. Only time will tell if it will continue to. I do love this song and it's honesty.
@JayCeezy
To edit my previous comment: "Love isn't always on time" can be very true. A year ago, this man was in love with me and I wasn't there yet. Fast forward a year and with time, I did eventually catch up. Not without some ups and downs with my feelings. He recently moved in with me and I am very much in love with him. It was just on MY time and not his. Often times, love doesn't happen for both people at the exact same time but it can happen with time. I needed him to "Hold the line" and he did. It doesn't always end badly. Sometimes, there is a happy ending.
@JayCeezy That was one of the best song explanations I've ever read, thanks a lot ! I think I lived something like that a long time ago, or it resembled that...
This song is fantastic!! just listen to that guitar!
This song is purely about cruising in Las Venturas listening to K-DST. Because good music never gets old, just cough dusty.
@DassJennir amen to that brother <3 <3
Awesome song, that guitar backing is magnificent.
the song is talking about love and timing. clearly. its saying that it might take time for love to come but it will come. not right away and you might have to wait or "hold the line" but love perseveres through all and shows its face when the time is right. thats what the song is about.
This song is my favorite toto song. The intro with the piano and drums, then guitar is sooooo sweet.
awesome song
I love this song, and believe that it has been overlooked as a love song of its era.
i love this song and toto.. music like this is beatiful and all music should be like this..... not like music now which is just a fad
Contrary to popular beliefs, i do agree that this song has been overlooked as a love song of its era, Lukasa.