In the first verse, the speaker reveals a destructive side of themselves ("the beast") that they have allowed into their life. They are aware of the chaos it brings and the difficulties it presents in their relationships, but at the same time, they are drawn to it. The chorus, with its repeated plea to run away from them as fast as possible, suggests a realization that the speaker's inner turmoil may be too much for their partner to handle.
The second verse implies that the speaker may initially seem vulnerable and submissive, but they anticipate their own hunger for conflict and the need to challenge their partner's faith in humanity. This highlights a pattern of self-sabotage and a fear of intimacy. The speaker wants to protect their partner from the storm that lies within them.
The bridge delves into the speaker's mental struggles, describing the unpredictable nature of their mind. They express the desire to escape their chaotic thoughts and seek solace in substances or distractions. The repeated phrase "I'm tired of whys" suggests a longing for simplicity and acceptance without overanalyzing every aspect of the relationship.
In the third verse, the speaker acknowledges their inclination to forgive and then continue fighting against their own destructive tendencies. They also express a desire to grow and flourish despite the challenges they face. The final chorus and outro emphasize the urgency for their partner to leave before they further damage the relationship and to allow the speaker to find their own path and self-growth.
Overall, "Fast as You Can" delves into the internal struggles and complexities of the speaker's mind, their attempts to protect their partner from their own demons, and their plea for liberation and self-discovery. It's a raw and introspective exploration of the push and pull between vulnerability and destructive tendencies within relationships.
As Fast As You Can
Fiona Apple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know how to live without my hand on his throat
I fight him always and still
O darling, it's so sweet
You think you know how crazy
How crazy I am
You won't go
But I know
And I pray that you will
Fast as you can, baby
Run, free yourself of me
Fast as you can
I may be soft in your palm
But I'll soon grow hungry for a fight
And I will not let you win
My pretty mouth will frame the phrases
That will disprove your faith in man
So if you catch me trying to find my way into your heart
From under your skin
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Sometimes my mind don't shake and shift
But most of the time, it does
And I get to the place where I'm begging for a lift
Or I'll drown in the wonders and the was
And I'll be your girl, if you say it's a gift
And you give me some more of your drugs
Yeah, I'll be your pet, if you just tell me it's a gift
'Cause I'm tired of whys, choking on whys
Just need a little because, because
I let the beast in and then
I even tried forgiving him, but it's too soon
So I'll fight again, again, again, again, again
And for a little while more
I'll soar the uneven wind, complain and blame the sterile land
But if you're getting any bright ideas, quiet dear
I'm blooming within
Fast as you can, baby wait watch me, I'll be out
Fast as I can, maybe late but at least about
Fast as you can leave me, let this thing run its route
Fast as you can, fast as you can
Fast as you can, fast as you can
The song Fast As You Can by Fiona Apple explores the complexities of a toxic relationship, in which the singer's metaphorical "beast" is constantly present, overpowering her and making her feel out of control. She admits to letting the beast in too soon, and struggles to live without it, even though she fights it. She addresses a lover or someone close to her, that despite claiming to have a deep understanding of her, they cannot handle her because of how "crazy" she can be. The singer warns this person to run as fast as possible and to free themselves of her, highlighting how she has a tendency to become dependent on others, resulting in a power struggle. She is aware that she may seem gentle at first, but that she can become aggressive quickly, and she won't back down easily, even if it hurts her.
As the song progresses, we see the singer's desire to be loved and accepted, even if it means being someone's pet or through the use of drugs as an escape. However, she recognizes that she needs to fight against this and not let herself become consumed by these inner demons. The chorus structures are a repetition of the phrase "fast as you can", which emphasizes the idea that the relationship is moving too quickly, and the need for the singer and the other person to move on from each other as fast as possible. The last moment of the song seems to be a turning point for the singer, where she holds onto the idea of blooming within, suggesting that she is healing, growing, and moving forward.
Overall, the song resonates with anyone who has experienced a relationship that feels too intense and unstable, and the difficulties that come with trying to let go of someone who has a hold on your life.
Line by Line Meaning
I let the beast in too soon
I exposed my inner demons too early in our relationship
I don't know how to live without my hand on his throat
I feel like I need to control my dark side to survive
I fight him always and still
I struggle with my dark side constantly, but it always remains present
O darling, it's so sweet
You think you can handle my craziness, and I find that endearing
You think you know how crazy
You believe you understand how wild and unpredictable I can be
How crazy I am
You have no idea how deep my inner turmoil goes
You say you don't spook easy
You claim to be fearless
You won't go
You don't plan on leaving me
But I know
I fear that you will eventually leave me
And I pray that you will
I hope you find the strength to leave me before it's too late
Fast as you can, baby
Leave me as quickly as possible
Run, free yourself of me
Escape the hold I have on you
I may be soft in your palm
I may seem fragile and vulnerable to you
But I'll soon grow hungry for a fight
But eventually, my temper will flare up and I'll be in the mood for an argument
And I will not let you win
And I won't back down or give in to you
My pretty mouth will frame the phrases
I will use my words cunningly and strategically
That will disprove your faith in man
My words will make you doubt the goodness of people
So if you catch me trying to find my way into your heart
If you notice me trying to get closer to you
From under your skin
Despite you rejecting me
Scratch me out, free yourself
Cut me out of your life and move on
Sometimes my mind don't shake and shift
Sometimes I feel calm and steady
But most of the time, it does
But usually, my mind is restless and turbulent
And I get to the place where I'm begging for a lift
I become desperate for relief and support
Or I'll drown in the wonders and the was
Or I'll get lost in my thoughts and emotions
And I'll be your girl, if you say it's a gift
I'll be yours if you treat me like a precious thing
And you give me some more of your drugs
If you give me more of what I crave and desire
Yeah, I'll be your pet, if you just tell me it's a gift
I'll play the role of your docile companion if you make me feel special
'Cause I'm tired of whys, choking on whys
I'm tired of constantly questioning my inner turmoil and getting no answers
Just need a little because, because
I just need a small amount of pleasure to help me cope
I even tried forgiving him, but it's too soon
I tried giving my inner demons a break, but it's too early to do that
So I'll fight again, again, again, again, again
So I'll continue to struggle and battle with my personal demons
And for a little while more
And for a little longer
I'll soar the uneven wind, complain and blame the sterile land
I'll experience highs and lows, and I'll complain and hold others responsible for my troubles
But if you're getting any bright ideas, quiet dear
If you're thinking about leaving me, keep it to yourself
I'm blooming within
I'm undergoing a process of transformation, even if I may not appear that way
Fast as you can, baby wait watch me, I'll be out
Be patient, I'll leave soon enough
Fast as I can, maybe late but at least about
I'll try to leave as soon as possible, even if it takes me longer than expected
Fast as you can leave me, let this thing run its route
Leave me behind and let me deal with my problems on my own
Fast as you can, fast as you can
Move on as fast as you can
Fast as you can, fast as you can
Keep moving forward, don't look back
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Fiona Apple Maggart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JoaoOliveira-id1hc
I let the beast in too soon
I don't know how to live without my hand on his throat
I fight him always and still
O darling, it's so sweet
You think you know how crazy
How crazy I am
You say you don't spook easy
You won't go
But I know
And I pray that you will
Fast as you can, baby
Run, free yourself of me
Fast as you can
I may be soft in your palm
But I'll soon grow hungry for a fight
And I will not let you win
My pretty mouth will frame the phrases
That will disprove your faith in man
So if you catch me trying to find my way into your heart
From under your skin
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Sometimes my mind don't shake and shift
But most of the time, it does
And I get to the place where I'm begging for a lift
Or I'll drown in the wonders and the was
And I'll be your girl, if you say it's a gift
And you give me some more of your drugs
Yeah, I'll be your pet, if you just tell me it's a gift
'Cause I'm tired of whys, choking on whys
Just need a little because, because
I let the beast in and then
I even tried forgiving him, but it's too soon
So I'll fight again, again, again, again, again
And for a little while more
I'll soar the uneven wind, complain and blame the sterile land
But if you're getting any bright ideas, quiet dear
I'm blooming within
Fast as you can, baby wait watch me, I'll be out
Fast as I can, maybe late but at least about
Fast as you can leave me, let this thing run its route
Fast as you can, fast as you can
Fast as you can, fast as you can
@eduardam15
Lyrics
I let the beast in too soon
I don't know how to live without my hand on his throat
I fight him always and still
O darling, it's so sweet
You think you know how crazy
How crazy I am
You say you don't spook easy
You won't go
But I know
And I pray that you will
Fast as you can, baby
Run, free yourself of me
Fast as you can
I may be soft in your palm
But I'll soon grow hungry for a fight
And I will not let you win
My pretty mouth will frame the phrases
That will disprove your faith in man
So if you catch me trying to find my way into your heart
From under your skin
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Fast as you can, baby
Scratch me out, free yourself
Fast as you can
Sometimes my mind don't shake and shift
But most of the time, it does
And I get to the place where I'm begging for a lift
Or I'll drown in the wonders and the was
And I'll be your girl, if you say it's a gift
And you give me some more of your drugs
Yeah, I'll be your pet, if you just tell me it's a gift
'Cause I'm tired of whys, choking on whys
Just need a little because, because
I let the beast in and then
I even tried forgiving him, but it's too soon
So I'll fight again, again, again, again, again
And for a little while more
I'll soar the uneven wind, complain and blame the sterile land
But if you're getting any bright ideas, quiet dear
I'm blooming within
Fast as you can, baby wait watch me, I'll be out
Fast as I can, maybe late but at least about
Fast as you can leave me, let this thing run its route
Fast as you can, fast as you can
Fast as you can, fast as you can
@the_black_douglas9041
Everyone talks about the lyrics. For me it's the wondrous melodies she effortlessly wrests from strange, discordant chord progressions. It's jazzy but not jazzy. It's punk but not punk. Like all my favourite music, the melodies of this song make feel things I can't express.
@KimberlySmith14
Totally
@fredericklofranco8937
exactly what im trying to saayyyy
@caerbannoghare4744
so god darn true. its the lyrics AND melodies.
@gracioussunchild9877
It even has a bit of latin sounds from the beat
@raulrodriguez4559
On point dude. She is a musical mutant. A true innovator!
@richharris2864
This drummer is on God mode.
@estebanb7166
Right!? I think this drummer played for Tori Amos. Chamberlin, maybe?
@elyy0345
On this one and Limp honestly. Crazy good.
@Soskouy
Prob cuz the drummer is a machine lol..