"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.
ON THE CORNER OF 5TH AND MAIN
BY AN OLD RIVERBED AND A RAILROAD TRAIN
THERE'S A SHOP NEAR THE TRACK
THE OWNER WORKS IN THE BACK
HE'S GOT A HOLE IN HIS SHIRT, A HOLE IN HIS SHOE
HE WALKS AROUND WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT TO DO
HE'S GOT NO CAR, HE'S GOT NO CLOTHES
DOES WHAT HE DOES
AND THAT'S ALL HE KNOWS
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS AND A DAY
HE'S BEEN GOING IN AND OUT OF HIS WAY
TO GIVE WHAT HE'S GOT
THE LORD KNOWS HE GIVES A LOT
WITH HIS FORTUNE MADE AND MONEY DOWN
THE GIFTS HE GIVES ARE ALL OVER TOWN
ON HIS FACE A BEAUTIFUL SMILE
HE'S SENDING OUT ALL THE WHILE
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HIS CHILDREN GREW UP AND HE GREW OLD
HIS HANDS GOT SHAKEY AND HIS SHOP GOT SOLD
NOW MANY LIES AND THE STORY'S BEEN TOLD
THERE AIN'T NOTHING LEFT BUT A DONUT HOLE
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
DONUT MAN
DONUT MAN
DONUT MAN
BY AN OLD RIVERBED AND A RAILROAD TRAIN
THERE'S A SHOP NEAR THE TRACK
THE OWNER WORKS IN THE BACK
HE'S GOT A HOLE IN HIS SHIRT, A HOLE IN HIS SHOE
HE WALKS AROUND WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT TO DO
HE'S GOT NO CAR, HE'S GOT NO CLOTHES
DOES WHAT HE DOES
AND THAT'S ALL HE KNOWS
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS AND A DAY
HE'S BEEN GOING IN AND OUT OF HIS WAY
TO GIVE WHAT HE'S GOT
THE LORD KNOWS HE GIVES A LOT
WITH HIS FORTUNE MADE AND MONEY DOWN
THE GIFTS HE GIVES ARE ALL OVER TOWN
ON HIS FACE A BEAUTIFUL SMILE
HE'S SENDING OUT ALL THE WHILE
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HIS CHILDREN GREW UP AND HE GREW OLD
HIS HANDS GOT SHAKEY AND HIS SHOP GOT SOLD
NOW MANY LIES AND THE STORY'S BEEN TOLD
THERE AIN'T NOTHING LEFT BUT A DONUT HOLE
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
DONUT MAN
DONUT MAN
DONUT MAN
Lyrics submitted by hovergun
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Fast Car
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
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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.
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i remember the days when launch.com stuck the video for this song on instead of 'gainsville rock city' by LTJ, stupid american yahoo ppl...