"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.
Dumb-de-de-dumb, de-de-dumb-de-de-dumb, de-daa-daaaaa
Dumb-de-de-dumb, de-de-dumb-de-de-dumb, de-daa-daa-daa-daa-daaaa
Well, I walk into the room
Passing out hundred dollar bills
And it kills, and it thrills, like the horns on my Silverado grill
And I buy the bar a double round of Crown
And everybody's gettin' down
And this town, ain't never gonna be the same
'Cause I saddle up my horse
And I ride into the city
I make a lot of noise
'Cause the girls
They are so pretty
Riding up and down Broadway
On my old stud Leroy
And the girls say
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
Everybody says
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
Well, I don't give a dang about nothing
I'm singing and bling blinging
While the girls are drinking
Long necks down
And I wouldn't trade ol' Leroy
Or my Chevrolet for your Escalade
Or your freak parade
I'm the only John Wayne left in this town
When I saddle up my horse
And I ride into the city
I make a lot of noise
'Cause the girls
They are so pretty
Riding up and down Broadway
On my old stud Leroy
And the girls say
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
Everybody says
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
Well, I'm a thoroughbred
That's what she said
In the back of my truck bed
As I was gettin' buzzed on suds
Out on some back country road
We where flying high, fine as wine
Having ourselves a Big and Rich time
And I was going just about as far as she'd let me go
But her evaluation
Of my cowboy reputation
Had me begging for salvation
All night long
So I took her out giggin' frogs
Introduced her to my ol' bird dog
And sang her every Willie Nelson song I could think of
And we made love
And I saddled up my horse
And I ride into the city
I make a lot of noise
'Cause the girls
They are so pretty
Riding up and down Broadway
On my old stud Leroy
And the girls say
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
Everybody says
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
What? What?
Save a horse ride a cowboy
Everybody says
Save a horse ride a cowboy
Dumb-de-de-dumb, de-de-dumb-de-de-dumb, de-daa-daa-daa-daa-daaaa
Well, I walk into the room
Passing out hundred dollar bills
And it kills, and it thrills, like the horns on my Silverado grill
And I buy the bar a double round of Crown
And everybody's gettin' down
And this town, ain't never gonna be the same
'Cause I saddle up my horse
And I ride into the city
I make a lot of noise
'Cause the girls
They are so pretty
Riding up and down Broadway
On my old stud Leroy
And the girls say
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
Everybody says
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
Well, I don't give a dang about nothing
I'm singing and bling blinging
While the girls are drinking
Long necks down
And I wouldn't trade ol' Leroy
Or my Chevrolet for your Escalade
Or your freak parade
I'm the only John Wayne left in this town
When I saddle up my horse
And I ride into the city
I make a lot of noise
'Cause the girls
They are so pretty
Riding up and down Broadway
On my old stud Leroy
And the girls say
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
Everybody says
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
Well, I'm a thoroughbred
That's what she said
In the back of my truck bed
As I was gettin' buzzed on suds
Out on some back country road
We where flying high, fine as wine
Having ourselves a Big and Rich time
And I was going just about as far as she'd let me go
But her evaluation
Of my cowboy reputation
Had me begging for salvation
All night long
So I took her out giggin' frogs
Introduced her to my ol' bird dog
And sang her every Willie Nelson song I could think of
And we made love
And I saddled up my horse
And I ride into the city
I make a lot of noise
'Cause the girls
They are so pretty
Riding up and down Broadway
On my old stud Leroy
And the girls say
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
Everybody says
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
What? What?
Save a horse ride a cowboy
Everybody says
Save a horse ride a cowboy
Lyrics submitted by Manderzterz
Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) Lyrics as written by Kenny Alphin John Rich
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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smiles wow. this song pumps me up beyond belif. everyone should save a horse ride a cowboy. im plannin on it;)