"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.
Hard days made me, hard nights shaped me
I don't know they somehow saved me
And I know I'm making something out of this life they called nothing
I take what I want
Take what I need
You say it's wrong but it's right for me
I won't look down
Won't say I'm sorry
I know that only God can judge me
And if I make it through today will tomorrow be the same
Am I just running in place?
If I stubble and I fall
Should I get up and carry on or will it all just be the same
'Cause, I'm young and hopeless
I'm lost and I know this
I'm going nowhere fast that's what they say
I'm troublesome, I've fallen
I'm angry at my father
It's me against this world and I don't care, I don't care
No one in this industry understands the life I lead
When I sing about my past it's not a gimmick not an act
These critics and these trust fund kids
Try to tell me what punk is but when I see them on the streets
they got nothing to say
And if I make it through today will tomorrow be the same
Am I just running in place?
If I stubble and I fall
Should I get up and carry on or will it all just be the same
'Cause, I'm young and hopeless
I'm lost and I know this
I'm going nowhere fast that's what they say
I'm troublesome, I've fallen
I'm angry at my father
It's me against this world and I don't care, I don't care
'Cause, I'm young and hopeless
I'm lost and I know this
I'm going nowhere fast that's what they say
I'm troublesome, I've fallen
I'm angry at my father
It's me against this world and I don't care, I don't care
I don't know they somehow saved me
And I know I'm making something out of this life they called nothing
I take what I want
Take what I need
You say it's wrong but it's right for me
I won't look down
Won't say I'm sorry
I know that only God can judge me
And if I make it through today will tomorrow be the same
Am I just running in place?
If I stubble and I fall
Should I get up and carry on or will it all just be the same
'Cause, I'm young and hopeless
I'm lost and I know this
I'm going nowhere fast that's what they say
I'm troublesome, I've fallen
I'm angry at my father
It's me against this world and I don't care, I don't care
No one in this industry understands the life I lead
When I sing about my past it's not a gimmick not an act
These critics and these trust fund kids
Try to tell me what punk is but when I see them on the streets
they got nothing to say
And if I make it through today will tomorrow be the same
Am I just running in place?
If I stubble and I fall
Should I get up and carry on or will it all just be the same
'Cause, I'm young and hopeless
I'm lost and I know this
I'm going nowhere fast that's what they say
I'm troublesome, I've fallen
I'm angry at my father
It's me against this world and I don't care, I don't care
'Cause, I'm young and hopeless
I'm lost and I know this
I'm going nowhere fast that's what they say
I'm troublesome, I've fallen
I'm angry at my father
It's me against this world and I don't care, I don't care
Lyrics submitted by SebTheCrab
The Young & the Hopeless Lyrics as written by Joel Madden Benjamin Madden
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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"
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Bright Eyes...you should follow what you preach because who is the 'shallow' one when you are judging members in this band because how they dress doesn't match their music? Who cares? Just let them dress how they want and play what they wanna play. And another thing, you should let people judge if they want to buy this cd for themselves because different things effect different people differently. I admit some good charlotte songs aren't that deep and emotional but there are also some that are. If their music and lyrics makes 1, just 1, persons day better than I wouldn't exactly call it 'worthless trash'. If you are going to judge a band because they have a few bad songs and because they are played on MTV, than that is the just as pathetic as someone listening to the band for an image.
You want to know the 'epitome of everything I hate'? When people will judge a band or artist because they are 'selling out' by being played on MTV because in doing that all that person is doing is conforming to the nonconformist. Just get a life and let people form their own opinions about about this cd. Its one thing to say I dont like this band but its another to acuse every single person who buys this cd and enjoys only likes it for the image. That crap and you know it.
Ok let me start this off by saying, this whole argument u guys have going about whether or not this band is good is pointless and pretty immature. The fact of the matter is, this website wasnt created for people to bitch and moan about whether or not someone is good or bad, its about saying what u think a certain peice of music MEANS. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions about music, but that doesnt mean its ok to vent ure frustrations where they dont belong...speak ure mind elsewhere.
Now, i think this song is basically talking about what its like to be famous and have people bashing on them jus cuz their not a fan, but they wont ever say nething to their face when it comes down to it.
i can't wait for the new cd!!
awsome song just downloaded it hehe dont wry i'll buy the cd too ;)
amazing. some of the songs on the new cd are gonna be grrrrreat. then there's lame ones like boys and girls and riot girl that are total pop :/
i agree with little oberst up there
Walk on with your bad self, my fellow Bright Eyes fan. This is pretentious crap.
OK bright eyes.......WE GET THE POINT!! how many times are you gonna post the exact same thing, your opinion has been heard MORE than enough times although we dont all agree with you ......THANK YOU NOW PLEASE LET IT GO
just to piss all of u off thats y. y else would i.
because your a pathetic lowlife who feels inferior about themselves and therefore must cut others down to make themselves feel better