"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.
Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Come on home
Making love in the afternoon with Cecilia
Up in my bedroom (making love)
I got up to wash my face
When I come back to bed someone's taken my place
Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Come on home
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Jubilation
She loves me again
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing
Jubilation
She loves me again
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing
Whoah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Come on home
Making love in the afternoon with Cecilia
Up in my bedroom (making love)
I got up to wash my face
When I come back to bed someone's taken my place
Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Come on home
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
Jubilation
She loves me again
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing
Jubilation
She loves me again
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing
Whoah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoah-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
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Fast Car
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Paul Simon is too much of a sophisticated artist to write a song simply about a hooker or some slut. Read the lyrics again keeping in mind that St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music. Takes on a whole new meaning, doesn't it? Much more fitting of Paul's spectacular artistry.
my mother used to sing this to me, but instead of "making love" she would sing "making lunch" that made the face washing thing more understandable...i always imagined pb&j
I have always taken this song to be about his relationship with his music, with the dating type relationship as a well placed metaphor. (taking "Cecilia" as a religious refference to St Cecilia, the patron saint of music; a catholic figure- taking note also that it is quite common to find religious refferences in Simon and Garfunkel's music)
The song does reference St. Cecilia and describes Simon's frustration with his muse leaving him and his jubilation upon her return.
Even though it makes the song seem more shallow and typical, I kind of like the 'love story' interpretation better. It makes the song much sweeter that way.
This song obviously states that this is one ROCKY relationship! I think it means that Cecilia doesnt know what to do. One minute, she is with him and then another minute she isnt. Its breaking his heart because he loves her and badly wants her. In the end all is well and she stays with him..but how long will that hold up for?
I absoloutley adore this song and even sometimes connect it with my love. The main message I get out of it is that he loves this girl and thinks she loves him back. However the girls afraid of getting too close and has to be distant which makes Paul think she doesn't love him. The intensity of it all is driving him crazy.. ''Jubilation, she loves me again. I fall on the floor, and I'm laughing.''
i never knew about st. cecilia, but it makes sense. i'm a little disappointed, because i always thought it was just a bittersweet song about someone who'd cheated and come back. but i do like that it has multiple levels and works on both.
I interpret this as a meesage as to how relationships can change so quickly- just while you are washing your face.
@FanOfToddR. Hey that's a good way to look at it!<br />
Delightfully playful song about love lost and the joy of reunification.