"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.
Friends, near complete family
At times, they don't understand me
Birthday, Christmas they send all love
We both know, it's just not enough
I'd feel alive as part of a team
St. Pauli, hear me scream
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
She, can't say she loves me
Even though it's plain to see
I'm saying it to her
So she can say it back to me
Sometimes our phone isn't quite what it seems
I'd have companionship as part of a team
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
We are Hamburg school
Sorry if my accent's flawed
I learnt my German from a 7 inch record
Sorry if my accent's flawed
I learnt my German from a 7 inch record
Sorry if my accent's flawed
I learnt my German from a 7 inch record
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
The kids don't like it,
The kids don't like it
What else can we do when the kids don't like it
The kids don't like it,
The kids don't like it
What else can we do when the kids don't like it
yeah!
At times, they don't understand me
Birthday, Christmas they send all love
We both know, it's just not enough
I'd feel alive as part of a team
St. Pauli, hear me scream
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
She, can't say she loves me
Even though it's plain to see
I'm saying it to her
So she can say it back to me
Sometimes our phone isn't quite what it seems
I'd have companionship as part of a team
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
We are Hamburg school
Sorry if my accent's flawed
I learnt my German from a 7 inch record
Sorry if my accent's flawed
I learnt my German from a 7 inch record
Sorry if my accent's flawed
I learnt my German from a 7 inch record
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
Punk rock ist nicht tot!
The kids don't like it,
The kids don't like it
What else can we do when the kids don't like it
The kids don't like it,
The kids don't like it
What else can we do when the kids don't like it
yeah!
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Oh wow, I totally misinterpreted this song! I heard it as 'Punk rock is nicht toll' meaning punk rock is not cool haha. I guess it's the opposite meaning :P