"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.
Staring at a maple leaf
Leaning on the mother tree
I said to myself, "we all lost touch"
Your favorite fruit is chocolate covered cherries
And seedless watermelon, oh
Nothing from the ground is good enough
Body rise
Look what's over me
Oh, chariot your golden waves
Are walking down upon this face
Oh, chariot I'm singing out loud
To guide me
Give me your strength
Remember seeking moon's rebirth
Rains made mirrors of the earth
The sun was just yellow energy
It is a living promise land
Even over fields of sand
Seasons fill my mind and
Cover me
Bringing back
More than a memory
Oh, chariot your golden waves
Are walking down upon this face
Oh, chariot I'm singing out loud
To guide me
Give me your strength
You'll be my vacation away from this place
You know what I want
Holding that cup
It's pouring over the sides
Make me wanna spread my arms and fly
Oh, chariot your golden waves
Are walking down upon this face
Oh, chariot I'm singing out loud
To guide me
Give me your strength
Give me your strength (chariot)
Give me your strength (chariot)
Give me your strength (chariot)
Give me your strength (chariot)
Give me your strength (give it to me)
Chariot
Give me your strength (give it to me)
Chariot
Give me your strength (give it to me)
Chariot
Give me your strength, oh chariot
Leaning on the mother tree
I said to myself, "we all lost touch"
Your favorite fruit is chocolate covered cherries
And seedless watermelon, oh
Nothing from the ground is good enough
Body rise
Look what's over me
Oh, chariot your golden waves
Are walking down upon this face
Oh, chariot I'm singing out loud
To guide me
Give me your strength
Remember seeking moon's rebirth
Rains made mirrors of the earth
The sun was just yellow energy
It is a living promise land
Even over fields of sand
Seasons fill my mind and
Cover me
Bringing back
More than a memory
Oh, chariot your golden waves
Are walking down upon this face
Oh, chariot I'm singing out loud
To guide me
Give me your strength
You'll be my vacation away from this place
You know what I want
Holding that cup
It's pouring over the sides
Make me wanna spread my arms and fly
Oh, chariot your golden waves
Are walking down upon this face
Oh, chariot I'm singing out loud
To guide me
Give me your strength
Give me your strength (chariot)
Give me your strength (chariot)
Give me your strength (chariot)
Give me your strength (chariot)
Give me your strength (give it to me)
Chariot
Give me your strength (give it to me)
Chariot
Give me your strength (give it to me)
Chariot
Give me your strength, oh chariot
Lyrics submitted by tumblweed15
Chariot Lyrics as written by Gavin Degraw
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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ok im gonna be a nerd. in ancient greece (and later, roman) myths there was a god (apollo for roman, i think helios for greek) who drove a chariot across the sky and that's why the sun moves. that's the first thing i thought of when i heard this song, and reading the lyrics it makes even more sense, because it talks about "golden waves" which could only come from the sun
@music2me At least the chariot bit makes more sense to be of Roman origin.<br /> He does mention the sun, but that verse is hard for me to decipher a meaning from.<br /> <br /> I will say this, however, in the songwriters' minds who write lyrics like this.. it could be very likely he believes ALL interpretations are true, and that his is a secret. Because it makes people happy. Why make one interpretation "official" if it brings otherlpeople joy under another interpretation.<br /> <br /> It seems a hipster thing to do, but it's beautiful regardless, if all of them have meannig.
@music2me This has always been in my mind when I hear this song as well. At the very first part I personally think it's pretty clear it's a reference to the sun, "Look what's over me / Oh, chariot your golden waves / Are walking down upon this face." <br /> <br /> The Chariot in the Tarot often also has celestial imagery associated with it and is a symbol of strength and determination as well. The imagery in the song of a cup overflowing it's sides reminds me of the Tarot as well.<br />
I think something got lost in translation, Dutchy. =P
The only woman present in this song is Mother Earth.
I think Chariot is about a place in the 'country' Gavin visited. This place of purity brings Gavin closer to the deity.
The lyrics quoted above speak to it. There, he's thinking about the place he's from, and what's wrong with the people who live in it.
Anyway, that's my take. I'd love to know what the word "Chariot" really means (from Gavin himself).
Wow. I can't believe nobody gets it yet. It's a metaphor within a metaphor. The song uses lines from the bible because he's using religion to talk about his piece of Heaven. I am Christian, and I did love the christian comments, too. Awesome thinking, because I wasn't sure if I was the only one with those ideas.
To put it short and sweet, the world he lived in was too complex. People wanted too much, and were trying to drag him into that mentality (remember the earlier comment, where it stated people were trying to offer him so much stuff, to convince him to join them?). This is sort of like his salvation. He wants the chariot to take him to "Heaven." The country(?) and nature. He's tired of the complex city. He wants simplicity. And, the reference from the Bible about the cup, I'm sure is a symbol of greed. Drinking from Jesus' cup will free him from greed, and once again take him home, as the Chariot could do. It will guide him out of this place he's in, and it will give him the strength to move past all the trouble. Or, perhaps he is just asking for God's strength? Sounds like Paganism, too. But, I doubt it.
(Also, check out the Biggie and Tupac reference in the video! During the rap scene. They both, similarly, meet their ends due to wanting too much, and were both Christian. The video also shows a preview of this fake place he visited, and how he wanted to leave it. Everyone was so confused, and shocked, at the end. Also, seems to be a reference to that old Jim Carey movie.)
God, now I sound like a nerd. If you want a break down of the lyrics, and a full explanation, please reply.
I wouldn't mind a breakdown of the lyrics. This is one of my favorite songs and I like to see what the lyrics mean to different people. I think there's definitely an evangelic side to the song and it seems like you know a lot about that. Anyway, thanks!
I love this song. I want to marry Gavin <3. He's so talented.
this song is about the beauty of nature and its about sex chariot is a girl the "golden waves" is referring to her hair.
I Love this song so much! It reminds me of when I met my Idol Kelly Ripa, on Live With Regis and Kelly. (Gavin sang this song on the show that day!) I play this song over and over and over again!
This song to me, means something religious. It shows stuff from the bible. In the second to last line of the regular song he says "Holding the cup thats pouring over the sides". This is a reference to what JESUS says about himself. He calls himself the bread and the CUP. Anyone who eats from him and drinks from him will never be hungry or thirsty. My hat goes out to Gavin for putting meanings like that into his songs. WITH LOVE FROM JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!
i know that im about six years too late but i just can't help it. although i do agree in general with the previous interpretations, i do find myself a bit disappointed with this chariot debate. it seems to me that a song about wanting simplicity would in fact also be a simple song, but sadly alot of people have over complicated it. some say its a generalized meaning to encompass all deity's, some say its "poetic licence", some say its god because he is christian, some say its the sun, some say its sex, some say its a girl. but remember this? "your chariot awaits you dear". would't a "chariot" be able to bring him from nyc to where he wants to be with just a bit of gas in the tank? don't you think its possible that he's just a boy singing about his car? simple song...simple explanation. i love my chariot too!!!
Now I'm a bit late, but good point! Lmao. I can agree with that.
It about how nothing natural is good enough for anyone. Life is so complicated and he wants to go away into his fantasy world...
When I'm having one of those days, like yesterday for me, I need to feel hopeful and I really feel the lyrics to this song. Sometimes we all need a vacation from this place and find our own pieces of heaven in faith
he is talented, alright.... unique voice