"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.
You fell down the stairs into my arms
And swiftly ran the other way
And I heard the steady swell of applause
The two drunk kids trying to figure out which way was home
They got lost as they were taking off each others clothes
They realized there was a hole in the boat
And with no lifesaver you try your best to float
And eventually the sky did return and I was there outside in green
And I watched the world being reborn till 1am
So I thought I'd let you know it was beautiful
Slow-dancing to tunes of Billy Holiday
The city looked wonderful that way
And love just like blood will always stain
And if I could reverse it I don't think that it'd be worth it
Cause I know in my heart I would never let you tumble to the ground
No I'll never let you fall
I would never let you tumble to the ground
And swiftly ran the other way
And I heard the steady swell of applause
The two drunk kids trying to figure out which way was home
They got lost as they were taking off each others clothes
They realized there was a hole in the boat
And with no lifesaver you try your best to float
And eventually the sky did return and I was there outside in green
And I watched the world being reborn till 1am
So I thought I'd let you know it was beautiful
Slow-dancing to tunes of Billy Holiday
The city looked wonderful that way
And love just like blood will always stain
And if I could reverse it I don't think that it'd be worth it
Cause I know in my heart I would never let you tumble to the ground
No I'll never let you fall
I would never let you tumble to the ground
Lyrics submitted by at_your_funeral
Fell Down the Stairs Lyrics as written by Jamie L Williams Derek Pressnall
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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oh and the line "And love just like blood, will always stain" - how fucking amazing is that??