"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.
God, save the captain,
he's got a wife at home.
And quite a few children,
you can't let them live alone
Oh, I'll go down yelling or quiet if you like.
But please save the captain, you see, I've got no wife waiting for me.
God, save the admiral,
he's got the mind to lead.
And the country needs him,
she's got more ships to fleet.
Oh, I'll go down yelling or quiet if you like
But please spare the admiral, you see, I've got no lives to lead to the sea.
Don't try to tell me who to save or kill.
I've got my own mind, you know and I'll do what I will.
I'll do what I will.
You know, I will.
I'll kill the captain if it's his time my boy
I'll take the admiral too, and if your not cool.
I'll take you.
I'm sorry, Lord,
you know what's best,
but please would you at least spare the cook?
I'm very hungry,
and by the looks of this ship.
I'm gonna starve!
I'm gonna starve!
Well the ship went down
To the bottom of the sea.
And the only ones left
Were the fat cook and me.
So I looked to the sky with a smile
In my eye
Caught a glimpse of the Dude
And started singing.
I'm sorry Lord that I doubted you.
Oh, babe you really came through.
And I thank you, I thank you!!
I thank you.
I thank you ... Lord
he's got a wife at home.
And quite a few children,
you can't let them live alone
Oh, I'll go down yelling or quiet if you like.
But please save the captain, you see, I've got no wife waiting for me.
God, save the admiral,
he's got the mind to lead.
And the country needs him,
she's got more ships to fleet.
Oh, I'll go down yelling or quiet if you like
But please spare the admiral, you see, I've got no lives to lead to the sea.
Don't try to tell me who to save or kill.
I've got my own mind, you know and I'll do what I will.
I'll do what I will.
You know, I will.
I'll kill the captain if it's his time my boy
I'll take the admiral too, and if your not cool.
I'll take you.
I'm sorry, Lord,
you know what's best,
but please would you at least spare the cook?
I'm very hungry,
and by the looks of this ship.
I'm gonna starve!
I'm gonna starve!
Well the ship went down
To the bottom of the sea.
And the only ones left
Were the fat cook and me.
So I looked to the sky with a smile
In my eye
Caught a glimpse of the Dude
And started singing.
I'm sorry Lord that I doubted you.
Oh, babe you really came through.
And I thank you, I thank you!!
I thank you.
I thank you ... Lord
Lyrics submitted by crack attic
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