"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.
Be on my side,
I'll be on your side, baby
There is no reason
For you to hide
It's so hard for me
Staying here all alone
When you could be
Taking me for a ride
Yeah, she could drag me
Over the rainbow
Send me away
Down by the river
I shot my baby
Down by the river
Dead, oh, shot her dead
You take my hand,
I'll take your hand
Together we may get away
This much madness
Is too much sorrow
It's impossible
To make it today
Yeah, she could drag me
Over the rainbow
Send me away
Down by the river
I shot my baby
Down by the river
Dead, oh, shot her dead
Be on my side,
I'll be on your side, baby
There is no reason
For you to hide
It's so hard for me
Staying here all alone
When you could be
Taking me for a ride
Yeah, she could drag me
Over the rainbow
Send me away
Down by the river
I shot my baby
Down by the river
Dead, oh, shot her dead
I'll be on your side, baby
There is no reason
For you to hide
It's so hard for me
Staying here all alone
When you could be
Taking me for a ride
Yeah, she could drag me
Over the rainbow
Send me away
Down by the river
I shot my baby
Down by the river
Dead, oh, shot her dead
You take my hand,
I'll take your hand
Together we may get away
This much madness
Is too much sorrow
It's impossible
To make it today
Yeah, she could drag me
Over the rainbow
Send me away
Down by the river
I shot my baby
Down by the river
Dead, oh, shot her dead
Be on my side,
I'll be on your side, baby
There is no reason
For you to hide
It's so hard for me
Staying here all alone
When you could be
Taking me for a ride
Yeah, she could drag me
Over the rainbow
Send me away
Down by the river
I shot my baby
Down by the river
Dead, oh, shot her dead
Lyrics submitted by SoSewPro, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Down by the River Lyrics as written by Rodgers Hart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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