"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.
Carlos Tê / Rui Veloso
Ai as tardes nas matas
A folhagem por tapete
Tocando tamborim em latas
E a boca a fazer trompete
Subir pinheiro bela arte
Pintar o índio na cara
Meia rota de estandarte
A flamejar na ponta de uma vara
Aí esse tempo
Quando o tempo era largo Madressilva figo verde
E aí que doce o verde amargo
Correr solto nos velados
Ser tão ágil como o gamo
Ver a salamandra ao sol
E o pardal de ramo em ramo
Refrão
Eu sou comanche meio apache
Ele navajo e tu moicana
Faço a canoa e pesco o peixe
Tu és o lume da cabana
Pega nessa faca e faz um golpe
Põe o teu sangue no meu a jorrar
Eu juro trazer o escape
De quem roubar o sol do teu olhar
Refrão
Ai as tardes nas matas
A folhagem por tapete
Tocando tamborim em latas
E a boca a fazer trompete
Subir pinheiro bela arte
Pintar o índio na cara
Meia rota de estandarte
A flamejar na ponta de uma vara
Aí esse tempo
Quando o tempo era largo Madressilva figo verde
E aí que doce o verde amargo
Correr solto nos velados
Ser tão ágil como o gamo
Ver a salamandra ao sol
E o pardal de ramo em ramo
Refrão
Eu sou comanche meio apache
Ele navajo e tu moicana
Faço a canoa e pesco o peixe
Tu és o lume da cabana
Pega nessa faca e faz um golpe
Põe o teu sangue no meu a jorrar
Eu juro trazer o escape
De quem roubar o sol do teu olhar
Refrão
Lyrics submitted by wwb
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Fast Car
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