"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.
My blood runs cold when I think of the
condition of human suffering and untold
pain the atrocities of war make my stomach
turn falling tears on the earth like burning
acid rain why has it
[Chorus:]
Been so long since anyone's noticed
it's been so long since anyone's cared we
watch and wait as the world keeps turning
hoping our greed won't consume us all
This world today is like a closed box for those
who have nothing but war torn streets shine a
ray of hope a light into their lives hid deep inside
your heart may they find their relief
why has it
[Chorus]
Hate can never cease by hate in this world and
this I know so I'm gonna give you these words
and I hope you'll listen to me cuz hate never
ceases by hate in this world no
Turn about the face and face the faces of death
in a place where men die of disease and
starvation psycho warfare politicians tool won't
let them pass the torch to a new generation
[Chorus 2x]
Why has it been so long
condition of human suffering and untold
pain the atrocities of war make my stomach
turn falling tears on the earth like burning
acid rain why has it
[Chorus:]
Been so long since anyone's noticed
it's been so long since anyone's cared we
watch and wait as the world keeps turning
hoping our greed won't consume us all
This world today is like a closed box for those
who have nothing but war torn streets shine a
ray of hope a light into their lives hid deep inside
your heart may they find their relief
why has it
[Chorus]
Hate can never cease by hate in this world and
this I know so I'm gonna give you these words
and I hope you'll listen to me cuz hate never
ceases by hate in this world no
Turn about the face and face the faces of death
in a place where men die of disease and
starvation psycho warfare politicians tool won't
let them pass the torch to a new generation
[Chorus 2x]
Why has it been so long
Lyrics submitted by ruben
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Fast Car
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best lyrics on the whole damn album