"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.
And he's so smooth, he's got her right where he wants her pants down, eyes shut and he swears, he swears that he loves her.
She knows what shes doing is wrong but he's got a little thing called sweet talk, so she's falling for this again.
It's the way she moves her head, it's the way - -
Now shes got nothing at all to say, she's the princess, the prince just strolled away leaving her with nothing but embarrassment and a stomach full of guilt.
Now look at the mess you've made.
This family will never be the same but you've cleaned it up okay.
Those three mistakes were the best you've ever made.
It's the way she moves her head, it's the way - -
You're so good at making excuses for your mistakes, not this time.
She fell down and got up again, she never saw it coming, no not again.
It's the way she moves her head, it's the way - -
You're so good at making excuses for your mistakes, not this time.
She fell down and got up again, she never saw it coming, no not again.
She knows what shes doing is wrong but he's got a little thing called sweet talk, so she's falling for this again.
It's the way she moves her head, it's the way - -
Now shes got nothing at all to say, she's the princess, the prince just strolled away leaving her with nothing but embarrassment and a stomach full of guilt.
Now look at the mess you've made.
This family will never be the same but you've cleaned it up okay.
Those three mistakes were the best you've ever made.
It's the way she moves her head, it's the way - -
You're so good at making excuses for your mistakes, not this time.
She fell down and got up again, she never saw it coming, no not again.
It's the way she moves her head, it's the way - -
You're so good at making excuses for your mistakes, not this time.
She fell down and got up again, she never saw it coming, no not again.
Lyrics submitted by FakeItThroughTheDay
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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sigh