"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.
General joy I know I know
You'll take me there
Where your boys were left behind
General joy it seems you need
A soldier girl -
Now "they" have liberty gagged
By boat by tram by motorbus
Could it be the fates are protecting us
From the hawks that have stolen the bird from the sky
And I know
You will always love sorrow
Is that why
You gave her dress to happiness?
Cause it matches her eyes
When she cries
General joy it seems
You don't love your bride
Generally
You're friends but she is not the love of your life
To dye to perm to change your hair or your wife
The possibilities are there
And it's time for you to decide
General joy I know I know
You'll take me there
But you'll need strength
From within
General joy it seems you need
A soldier girl
And a willing coalition
By boat by tram by motorbus
Could it be the hawks are protecting us
From the men who have now assumed their name
You'll take me there
Where your boys were left behind
General joy it seems you need
A soldier girl -
Now "they" have liberty gagged
By boat by tram by motorbus
Could it be the fates are protecting us
From the hawks that have stolen the bird from the sky
And I know
You will always love sorrow
Is that why
You gave her dress to happiness?
Cause it matches her eyes
When she cries
General joy it seems
You don't love your bride
Generally
You're friends but she is not the love of your life
To dye to perm to change your hair or your wife
The possibilities are there
And it's time for you to decide
General joy I know I know
You'll take me there
But you'll need strength
From within
General joy it seems you need
A soldier girl
And a willing coalition
By boat by tram by motorbus
Could it be the hawks are protecting us
From the men who have now assumed their name
Lyrics submitted by merchantpierce
General Joy Lyrics as written by Tori Ellen Amos
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Ooh I like that idea, non vintage! Could well be...