"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.
Poke the body with a stick, roll it down
Ignore the moaning as it tumbles to the ground
Be brave and save your day
These days are cold, numbers rule I've been told
The pattern's clear better fit in the mold
You need to be brave and save your day
You need to be brave and save your day
To cough up sympathy isn't hard but it costs
Hold tight to your life savings
You have to do what you must to save your day
So poke the body and roll it down
The grave looks cold but we're still young
We're still young
Ignore the moaning as it tumbles to the ground
Be brave and save your day
These days are cold, numbers rule I've been told
The pattern's clear better fit in the mold
You need to be brave and save your day
You need to be brave and save your day
To cough up sympathy isn't hard but it costs
Hold tight to your life savings
You have to do what you must to save your day
So poke the body and roll it down
The grave looks cold but we're still young
We're still young
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Fast Car
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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I get a different take. I think this is an indictment on selfishness and personal convenience. In dealing with the body, he does the opposite of the "good samaritan" in order to save time or not be inconvenienced, etc. so he "saves his day." Coughing up sympathy puts it into a negative light. You don't want to do it, and you COULD do it, but there is a price. Better not to and "save your day." Fit into the mold, look out for yourself, hold on to your material belongings, etc.
excellent