"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.
He's got a big gold ring which says "Jesus Saves"
And it's dented from the punch thrown at work that day,
Where he smashed a metal locker where he kept his things
After the big boss said you'd best be on your way
Oh yeah...
So this life is sacrifice
Oh yeah...
Jumping trains just to survive
Well his wife and kids' asleep but he's still awake
On his brain weighs the curse of thirty bills unpaid
Gets up, lights a cigarette he's grown to hate
Thinkin if he can't sleep, how will he ever dream
Yeah...
So this life is sacrifice
Oh yeah...
To a stranger's bottom line
Oh yeah...
I've seen the light
Ohh ohh ohhh... Ohh ohh ohhhh...
I'm scared of life
Near to death
Ohh ohh ohhh... Ohh ohh ohhhh...
I've seen the light
Scared of life
Yeah...
So this life is sacrifice
Oh yeah...
Was a dream that had to die
Oh yeah...
I've seen the light
Ohh ohh ohhh... Ohh ohh ohhhh...
And I'm scared of life
Near to death
Ohh ohh ohhh... Ohh ohh ohhhh...
I've seen the light
Scared of life
Ohh ohh ohhh... Ohhhhhh Ohhh..
And I'm near to death
Here to die
Scared of life
Near to death
Here to die
Scared of life...
And it's dented from the punch thrown at work that day,
Where he smashed a metal locker where he kept his things
After the big boss said you'd best be on your way
Oh yeah...
So this life is sacrifice
Oh yeah...
Jumping trains just to survive
Well his wife and kids' asleep but he's still awake
On his brain weighs the curse of thirty bills unpaid
Gets up, lights a cigarette he's grown to hate
Thinkin if he can't sleep, how will he ever dream
Yeah...
So this life is sacrifice
Oh yeah...
To a stranger's bottom line
Oh yeah...
I've seen the light
Ohh ohh ohhh... Ohh ohh ohhhh...
I'm scared of life
Near to death
Ohh ohh ohhh... Ohh ohh ohhhh...
I've seen the light
Scared of life
Yeah...
So this life is sacrifice
Oh yeah...
Was a dream that had to die
Oh yeah...
I've seen the light
Ohh ohh ohhh... Ohh ohh ohhhh...
And I'm scared of life
Near to death
Ohh ohh ohhh... Ohh ohh ohhhh...
I've seen the light
Scared of life
Ohh ohh ohhh... Ohhhhhh Ohhh..
And I'm near to death
Here to die
Scared of life
Near to death
Here to die
Scared of life...
Lyrics submitted by N0 C0DE 79
Unemployable Lyrics as written by Mike Mccready Eddie Vedder
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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A 6 song demo sampler that was originally meant to be heard by "radio DJ's or executives for their reveiw or something" was leaked on a Message board I visit every once in a while, and someone posted the lyrics they picked up from the songs,..
I just thought it would be a good time to add them to get some early discussion going on what they mean,...
I haven't listened to the leaked songs however,...
I will wait until May 2nd for that :)