"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.
Woke before the morning sun
I found it tucked beneath the hills
I sat and watched it rise
It hit the sky and burst to flames
The lotus flower's
Got me thinking 'bout the way that we live
I got this feeling
It's gonna stop
Driven by religion
Running backwards down a one way road
A course collision, split decision
Tryin' to save your soul
Manifest Destiny
Is just a fancy word for murder
I got this feeling
It's gonna stop
A billion faces running 'round my head
All got opinions but they don't mean shit
Keep droppin' bombs until the whole world's dead
They said it's all been done and it's all been said
They'll turn this message into a pop movement
A fascist statement, call it politics
You can mark my words they'll put a spin on it
They'll say it's all been done
Look outside the box my friend
Your heart's been dead since who knows when
It seems we've missed the mark
Lost all hope and given in
Pack up the suitcase
Take that handkerchief then wipe off your chin
The fear that drives you
Needs to be stopped
A billion faces running 'round my head
All got opinions but they don't mean shit
Keep droppin' bombs until the whole world's dead
They said it's all been done and it's all been said
They'll turn our message into a pop movement
A fascist statement, call it politics
You can mark my words they'll put a spin on it
They'll say it's all been done
Fell into a daze
And found my mind was gone and laid to waste
A battleground indeed
Where holy wars have taken place
I saw the sun set, watched it travel down
And tear you through the ground
The hate the drives us
Needs to be stopped
I found it tucked beneath the hills
I sat and watched it rise
It hit the sky and burst to flames
The lotus flower's
Got me thinking 'bout the way that we live
I got this feeling
It's gonna stop
Driven by religion
Running backwards down a one way road
A course collision, split decision
Tryin' to save your soul
Manifest Destiny
Is just a fancy word for murder
I got this feeling
It's gonna stop
A billion faces running 'round my head
All got opinions but they don't mean shit
Keep droppin' bombs until the whole world's dead
They said it's all been done and it's all been said
They'll turn this message into a pop movement
A fascist statement, call it politics
You can mark my words they'll put a spin on it
They'll say it's all been done
Look outside the box my friend
Your heart's been dead since who knows when
It seems we've missed the mark
Lost all hope and given in
Pack up the suitcase
Take that handkerchief then wipe off your chin
The fear that drives you
Needs to be stopped
A billion faces running 'round my head
All got opinions but they don't mean shit
Keep droppin' bombs until the whole world's dead
They said it's all been done and it's all been said
They'll turn our message into a pop movement
A fascist statement, call it politics
You can mark my words they'll put a spin on it
They'll say it's all been done
Fell into a daze
And found my mind was gone and laid to waste
A battleground indeed
Where holy wars have taken place
I saw the sun set, watched it travel down
And tear you through the ground
The hate the drives us
Needs to be stopped
Lyrics submitted by ThatHillKid
Lotus Lyrics as written by Daniel Tichenor Brad Shultz
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Great version of a great song,
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I'm just throwing it out there, but does anyone think that Lotus Flower may be referring to the Lotus-Eaters in Greek mythology, where the Lotus flowers were narcotic and addictive, causing the people to sleep in peaceful apathy (possibly referencing to pot) that made him think about the way we live? (and explains the trippy description of the sun coming up) I know it's kind of demeaning in a way, but I'm just throwing it out there...