"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.
Memories flood back like photographs,
All bright and out of focus, all drab with muted colors.
The whole world smells like True Blue, the only brand my grandma smokes
And the faintest hint of Coppertone.
I'm watching shorebirds circle in real close.
I know you're gonna go.
Just please leave me a note.
I left because you asked me to.
Operator, take me home.
I don't know where else to go.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
A heart attack shoveling snow all alone.
If I die, I wanna die in the suburbs.
These northeast winters make boys into men,
Staring out at snow-plowed mountains in the parking lots of churches.
The city just felt worn out, no strength to pick our hearts off the ground.
We watched the '92 Birds take the field without Jerome Brown.
We keep quiet when it gets bad.
We don't talk about the setbacks.
They only hear it when your voice cracks.
Operator, take me home.
I don't know where else to go.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
A heart attack shoveling snow all alone.
If I die, I wanna die in the suburbs.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
Operator, take me home.
I don't know where else to go.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
A heart attack shoveling snow all alone.
If I die, I wanna die in the suburbs.
Operator, take me home.
I don't know where else to go.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
A heart attack shoveling snow all alone.
If I die, I wanna die in the suburbs.
Die in the suburbs.
All bright and out of focus, all drab with muted colors.
The whole world smells like True Blue, the only brand my grandma smokes
And the faintest hint of Coppertone.
I'm watching shorebirds circle in real close.
I know you're gonna go.
Just please leave me a note.
I left because you asked me to.
Operator, take me home.
I don't know where else to go.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
A heart attack shoveling snow all alone.
If I die, I wanna die in the suburbs.
These northeast winters make boys into men,
Staring out at snow-plowed mountains in the parking lots of churches.
The city just felt worn out, no strength to pick our hearts off the ground.
We watched the '92 Birds take the field without Jerome Brown.
We keep quiet when it gets bad.
We don't talk about the setbacks.
They only hear it when your voice cracks.
Operator, take me home.
I don't know where else to go.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
A heart attack shoveling snow all alone.
If I die, I wanna die in the suburbs.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
Operator, take me home.
I don't know where else to go.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
A heart attack shoveling snow all alone.
If I die, I wanna die in the suburbs.
Operator, take me home.
I don't know where else to go.
I wanna die in the suburbs.
A heart attack shoveling snow all alone.
If I die, I wanna die in the suburbs.
Die in the suburbs.
Lyrics submitted by Stiggler23, edited by Surgical_Tools, synthxdill
We Could Die Like This Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
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.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Is this like officially from the lyric book with the CD? I haven't got mine yet, but I swear they're not saying " I don't wanna die in the suburbs" it's just "I wanna die in the suburbs" .. I could be wrong of course!
The booklet is "I wanna die in the suburbs"
Sadface, no one has interpretations on here, I was hoping someone would! This song has so many nice lines and so much to think about but I think overall he's just looking into his past at all his childhood memories. He connects the memories to their location very well. The memories aren't as good as actually being there though...they're "drab with muted colors". I think he's saying he grew up in the suburbs and he wants to go back there to grow old and die? He wants to relive the good memories with everything that they are, the smell of his grandma smoking ect. A line I also like "They only hear it when your voice cracks. " meaning they only hear your weakness when you aren't confident. I'd love to hear others' interpretaions! :D