"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 were raised by wolves
And we are still wild
And we howl when the troubled wind blows
And in the TV's blue light
Oh, assassins will lie
Every wail just a-goin' down slow
So don't tread on me
For I am your brother
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister
She was born with an American heart
All the people you meet
Down in the streets
May be good but they don't wanna know
So they cover their eyes, for
Who wants to be sad?
Life is sweet at the bottom of the sea
And don't tread on me
For I am your brother
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister
She was born with an American heart
And the mothers will cry,
Fathers stay up all night
With the worry that goes to the bones
And if your God makes war
Then he's no God I know
'Cause Christ would not send boys to die
And don't tread on me
For I am your brother
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister
She was born with an American heart
Don't you get low as hell
When the peace dove is felled
By men with the blackest of minds
And above the din
Let the sighin' begin
As we're bound for the longest of days
So don't tread on me
For I am your brother
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister
She was born with an American heart
And we are still wild
And we howl when the troubled wind blows
And in the TV's blue light
Oh, assassins will lie
Every wail just a-goin' down slow
So don't tread on me
For I am your brother
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister
She was born with an American heart
All the people you meet
Down in the streets
May be good but they don't wanna know
So they cover their eyes, for
Who wants to be sad?
Life is sweet at the bottom of the sea
And don't tread on me
For I am your brother
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister
She was born with an American heart
And the mothers will cry,
Fathers stay up all night
With the worry that goes to the bones
And if your God makes war
Then he's no God I know
'Cause Christ would not send boys to die
And don't tread on me
For I am your brother
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister
She was born with an American heart
Don't you get low as hell
When the peace dove is felled
By men with the blackest of minds
And above the din
Let the sighin' begin
As we're bound for the longest of days
So don't tread on me
For I am your brother
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister
She was born with an American heart
Lyrics submitted by bugoff
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Fast Car
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Fascinating song. Just listened to it via Youtube. Don't care for one line, though: "And if your God makes war then he's no God I know 'Cause Christ would not send boys to die." God does not make war; man (with his/her free will) chooses to go to war. We were born with original sin thanks to Adam and Eve, and it is within our power to make the tough choices. Man created the need for war and the ability to fight wars. And, yes, unfortunately at times there is a 'need"....consider the Jews who could not reason with a man like Hitler. Other than that unfair and dishonest jab at God, this track is excellent.
well, obviously he is referencing the fact that people, of all religions, misunderstand their faith and personally (or are brainwashed to) believe that they are supposed to kill for their god. He is most definitely not saying that he thinks that other "gods" make war.
@TurnMeOn Yea at first I thought that he was blaming God for wars, but the context I believe he is singing about is the gods that do stir up wars like Allah for example.