"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.
Uh, what they say, what they say, what they say
What they say, what they say, what they say
You speak out, all you feel is defiance
All you need is some self-reliance
'Cause this world is gonna always try us
And all you wanted was to run for cover
Well here's looking to yourself and no other
We're all searching for that special something
And we keep on running
We all have the choice to take the lead or follow
I want to feel the light shine on me (me)
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, you'll soon get strong enough
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
You're going to break, so please don't do it
You wanna spread your wings but you're not sure
Don't wanna leave your comforts, wanna find a cure
We're afraid of who we see in the mirror
We wanna let go but it feels too pure
Who wants to be alone in this world
You look around and all you see is hurt
But the light it always finds us
If we move with a little trust
We all have the choice to take the lead or follow
I want to feel the light shine on me (me)
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, you'll soon get strong enough
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
You're going to break, so please don't do it
A diamond don't define what shine is
I don't need a Rolex to know what the time is
You got yours let me find what mine in
I'm a survivor look how strong my mind is
I stand on my own it's all me
Regardless of whatever they call me
I'm a leader not a follower
And I'd rather be paid and popular
Ride homie get your dollars up
We're in the belly of the beast that already swallowed us
It's the end of the world and we know it
(Oh, oh, oh)
It's the end of the world
(Oh, oh, oh)
And we know it
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, you'll soon get strong enough
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
You're going to break, so please don't do it
You're so afraid of what people might say (that's okay)
You're so afraid of what people might say (that's okay)
You're so afraid of what people might say (that's okay)
You're so afraid of what people might say (that's okay)
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, you'll soon get strong enough
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
You're going to break, so please don't do it
What they say, what they say, what they say
You speak out, all you feel is defiance
All you need is some self-reliance
'Cause this world is gonna always try us
And all you wanted was to run for cover
Well here's looking to yourself and no other
We're all searching for that special something
And we keep on running
We all have the choice to take the lead or follow
I want to feel the light shine on me (me)
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, you'll soon get strong enough
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
You're going to break, so please don't do it
You wanna spread your wings but you're not sure
Don't wanna leave your comforts, wanna find a cure
We're afraid of who we see in the mirror
We wanna let go but it feels too pure
Who wants to be alone in this world
You look around and all you see is hurt
But the light it always finds us
If we move with a little trust
We all have the choice to take the lead or follow
I want to feel the light shine on me (me)
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, you'll soon get strong enough
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
You're going to break, so please don't do it
A diamond don't define what shine is
I don't need a Rolex to know what the time is
You got yours let me find what mine in
I'm a survivor look how strong my mind is
I stand on my own it's all me
Regardless of whatever they call me
I'm a leader not a follower
And I'd rather be paid and popular
Ride homie get your dollars up
We're in the belly of the beast that already swallowed us
It's the end of the world and we know it
(Oh, oh, oh)
It's the end of the world
(Oh, oh, oh)
And we know it
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, you'll soon get strong enough
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
You're going to break, so please don't do it
You're so afraid of what people might say (that's okay)
You're so afraid of what people might say (that's okay)
You're so afraid of what people might say (that's okay)
You're so afraid of what people might say (that's okay)
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, you'll soon get strong enough
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay, 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
You're going to break, so please don't do it
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For the longest time I have considered Shit On The Radio my theme song. Just a song about being your self and not letting other people effect you. Now Nelly releases this gem and now I have 2 theme songs. I can really connect with this some, maybe that why I like it so much. I feel that a lot of people I know are so scared of what people might think. I cant live that way. Great song!