Going Nowhere Fast
© 2008 Steve Sample

Sixteen years old, my truck was twenty two
Three on the tree, faded baby blue
When she ran, I covered some ground
A million miles, and I never left town

Going nowhere fast same routine
Wasting time and gasoline
Never thought to slow down
Energy to burn, looking for fun
Always end up back at square one
Spinning my wheels, round and around
What a blast, going nowhere fast

Me and all my friends would drive to Brady Creek
Those muddy banks never looked all that deep
Windows down our radio loud
One hour in took three to get back out

Repeat Chorus

Late nights always ended in that truck
When my girl would say
Boy, don't push your luck

Repeat Chorus

Going nowhere fast
Nowhere
Aw, going nowhere fast

One day I was listening to an interview with an artist on the radio, and they were talking about their career in music. It had apparently taken them a long time to "make it" and they described their early career as "going nowhere fast." That phrase jumped out at me, and I immediately thought it would be cool to turn what was normally a negative phrase into something positive.

A few days later I had a guitar lesson. I was telling my instructor how I felt like I kept going to the same old chords over and over and asked if he could either show me some new chords or new ways to play those same chords. One of the chords he showed me was a different way to play a "D" chord. It sounded really cool to me and instantly gave me this nostalgic recalling a memory kind of feel.

I went home and started playing with this new chord I had learned along with the title I had written down. "Going nowhere fast" just seemed like it should start with a teenager in a truck. I was reminded how my dad gave me his truck when I turned sixteen. The truck he bought brand new the year I was born. I was fortunate. It was in excellent shape and had only 50,000 miles on it.

Then I recalled my cousin that was eight years older than me not being as fortunate. He started out with my grandfather's old truck. It was faded baby blue and pretty worn out, but it was freedom nonetheless. "Sixteen years old, my truck was twenty-two. Three on the tree, faded baby blue" just fell out and the song took off.

From there the song started taking on a life of it's own. What started off about a truck, turned into that restlessness and desire to constantly be on the move as a teenager in general just out looking for fun. So busy, but at the end of the day or night, we really had nothing to show for it. We were going nowhere, but in hurry to get there.

The first Nashville Songwriters Association conference that I attended, I entered "Going Nowhere Fast" into the song contest. It placed in the Top 10. It was fun to write, and is still fun to play. Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoy the song.