"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.
Every day, we profit so
Leaning towards the great unknown
Asking how it pertains to tomorrow
Aim for places we've not been
Trample paths that go between
Yesterday's foundations and tomorrow
It's the way they say it's got to be
We spear ahead and forge our destiny
Who do they represent? Who do you believe?
Make a sound decision for others to heed
Try to set a faster pace
Try to build a master race
One that will make a contribution to tomorrow
It's the way they say it's got to be
We put aside our fears and make history
The clothes are in the dryer and the writing's on the wall
We're doing everything we can to stop this fall
Every day, we profit so
Leaning toward the great unknown
Leaning towards the great unknown
Asking how it pertains to tomorrow
Aim for places we've not been
Trample paths that go between
Yesterday's foundations and tomorrow
It's the way they say it's got to be
We spear ahead and forge our destiny
Who do they represent? Who do you believe?
Make a sound decision for others to heed
Try to set a faster pace
Try to build a master race
One that will make a contribution to tomorrow
It's the way they say it's got to be
We put aside our fears and make history
The clothes are in the dryer and the writing's on the wall
We're doing everything we can to stop this fall
Every day, we profit so
Leaning toward the great unknown
Lyrics submitted by The Automatic Man, edited by Adoniran, DanVitaleRocks
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Fast Car
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well said. no response. really. clothes are in the dryer/ writing on the wall. one that wel make a contribution too tomaro. pretty insightful we all seem the be in the progressive cacooning stage to hatch and contribute tommaro to put on out clean clothes? haha. more or less. not my favorite BR song. a great one though
Hitler tried to build a master race.We know how that turned out.