"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.
Sail to the stars on your shining desires.
"Reasons? there are none" cried the whisky laden brain.
"When all is said and done it amounts to just the same".
There in your starry eyes lie hopes that have been betrayed.
The cause of your desire can also lead to your demise.
When all is said and done it will be you who pays the price
As countless fools are often loathe to testify
"It's an illusion of life, the whole cause of our demise".
Sail to the stars on your shining desires.
Lucretia waits in vain for the child of her dreams.
Within her aching womb there burns a funeral pyre.
There in your starry eyes lie hopes that have been betrayed.
The prize that you claim can never be yours to take
Like castles in Spain, hope is all that will remain.
Abstain from the fools paradise, it's an illusion of life, the whole cause of our demise.
Fools are often loathe to testify "it's an illusion of life, the whole cause of our demise".
Contemplate the world and it's traitors to the soul.
The forces of derision and their legions manifold.
Usurpers of the crown, all pretenders to the throne,
Your world is linked in chains "All in one, One in all".
"Reasons? there are none" cried the whisky laden brain.
"When all is said and done it amounts to just the same".
There in your starry eyes lie hopes that have been betrayed.
The cause of your desire can also lead to your demise.
When all is said and done it will be you who pays the price
As countless fools are often loathe to testify
"It's an illusion of life, the whole cause of our demise".
Sail to the stars on your shining desires.
Lucretia waits in vain for the child of her dreams.
Within her aching womb there burns a funeral pyre.
There in your starry eyes lie hopes that have been betrayed.
The prize that you claim can never be yours to take
Like castles in Spain, hope is all that will remain.
Abstain from the fools paradise, it's an illusion of life, the whole cause of our demise.
Fools are often loathe to testify "it's an illusion of life, the whole cause of our demise".
Contemplate the world and it's traitors to the soul.
The forces of derision and their legions manifold.
Usurpers of the crown, all pretenders to the throne,
Your world is linked in chains "All in one, One in all".
Lyrics submitted by jaaames, edited by IniquitatisRex
The Cardinal Sin Lyrics as written by Gus Ferguson Brendan Michael Perry
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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Lucretia being mentioned in this song is key point here; about Lucretia, she was a semi legendary figure in Roman history
Oops my comment got cut off: more on Lucretia :her rape by the Etruscan king's son and consequent suicide were the immediate cause of the revolution that overthrew the monarchy and established the Roman Republic.
To me this song is in that respect one that speaks of lust crimes and crimes done mindlessly in the midst of alcohol & drug abuse "Reasons? There are none" cried the whisky laden brain . Lucretia an example of the height of corruption & crime that was inflicted, better judgement often clouded & usurped by alcohol & drugs as well as just greed and lust. Rape is a cardinal sin in my opinion especially against a woman but most certainly a man too. This song explores sin against the highest moral scale. How the guilty sinner would just go about there ways in disregard of who they may hurt (sail to the stars on your shining desires) speaks to allowing ones darkes lust & desires to lead the way as opposed to better judgement. In conclusion, the song is brilliant & a cautionary tale. Remarkably written lyrically and hauntingly beautiful musically.
@EternalTearsOfSorrow 6 years later but I appreciate your comment if you ever do see this. Dead Can Dance offers something that out right almost doesn't exist now. A mishmash of eclectic genres into something wholly unique and amazing with lryics that have incredibly deep meaning, Im rambling, anyways thank you for your comment.