"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.
The world is blind
It doesn't take a scientist to figure that out
but you and I need to take the truth
and start erasing the doubt
This lyrical poetry is racing inside of me
I think the whole church needs a spiritual lobotomy
got to throw some dirt on this spiritual watergate
cause' six feet under and it's still try'n to agrivate
everybody sayin whats all the worry
no need to stress man whats all the hurry
I came to take on that anti-Christ intellect
The new school theoligy is now in effect
Turn the page
just another story of teenage rage
is this the way
our co-pathetic comfort allows us to stay
what are you about have you ever thought it over
a bonafide servant or a Sunday poseur
all dressed up and your frontin' the look
do ya ever check tha pages of that big black book
cause if you did man I know you'd comprehend
It's a lack of morality that I'm try'n to offend
We can win this war if it's love we show
Now It's time to
Go
to your neighborhood
that's right
from New York to Hollywood
take the Message to the world
Go
when I'm blastin out your speakers
like a soap box preacher
take that Message to the world
Your wanted
you try but you know
This feeling it won't let you go
Don't you believe whats inside
I'm saying our Light needs to shine
but I have got to get away
to share the things I have to say
It's time for me to take a stand and Go!
Chorus repeat
It doesn't take a scientist to figure that out
but you and I need to take the truth
and start erasing the doubt
This lyrical poetry is racing inside of me
I think the whole church needs a spiritual lobotomy
got to throw some dirt on this spiritual watergate
cause' six feet under and it's still try'n to agrivate
everybody sayin whats all the worry
no need to stress man whats all the hurry
I came to take on that anti-Christ intellect
The new school theoligy is now in effect
Turn the page
just another story of teenage rage
is this the way
our co-pathetic comfort allows us to stay
what are you about have you ever thought it over
a bonafide servant or a Sunday poseur
all dressed up and your frontin' the look
do ya ever check tha pages of that big black book
cause if you did man I know you'd comprehend
It's a lack of morality that I'm try'n to offend
We can win this war if it's love we show
Now It's time to
Go
to your neighborhood
that's right
from New York to Hollywood
take the Message to the world
Go
when I'm blastin out your speakers
like a soap box preacher
take that Message to the world
Your wanted
you try but you know
This feeling it won't let you go
Don't you believe whats inside
I'm saying our Light needs to shine
but I have got to get away
to share the things I have to say
It's time for me to take a stand and Go!
Chorus repeat
Lyrics submitted by AugustWinterman
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Fast Car
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