"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.
We seek; we sought
a lesson to be taught
a battle to be faught
we seek what you wrought
In finding a lesson;
a learned suggestion
your regime has lost
a battle of questions
(chorus)
A sheild and sword protect bare flesh
tarnished metal from head to toe
bearing greaves of chain-link mesh
a story is told in scars burnt slow
the grooves of a blade stained in blood
and lore of folk who faught with might
will soon be lost in gossip and flood
of lies regarding those in the right
(chorus)
A sheild and sword protect bare flesh
tarnished metal from head to toe
bearing greaves of chain-link mesh
a story is told in scars burnt slow
the damage is done
that truth is gone
and to those who won
the battle has just begun
To arms men; We must fight.
(chorus)
A sheild and sword protect bare flesh
tarnished metal from head to toe
bearing greaves of chain-link mesh
a story is told in scars burnt slow
a lesson to be taught
a battle to be faught
we seek what you wrought
In finding a lesson;
a learned suggestion
your regime has lost
a battle of questions
(chorus)
A sheild and sword protect bare flesh
tarnished metal from head to toe
bearing greaves of chain-link mesh
a story is told in scars burnt slow
the grooves of a blade stained in blood
and lore of folk who faught with might
will soon be lost in gossip and flood
of lies regarding those in the right
(chorus)
A sheild and sword protect bare flesh
tarnished metal from head to toe
bearing greaves of chain-link mesh
a story is told in scars burnt slow
the damage is done
that truth is gone
and to those who won
the battle has just begun
To arms men; We must fight.
(chorus)
A sheild and sword protect bare flesh
tarnished metal from head to toe
bearing greaves of chain-link mesh
a story is told in scars burnt slow
Lyrics submitted by trisagion
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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