"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.
Oh, Elvis, do you think it could work?
—Yes, I think it could work, Marilyn.
But it's such a long time ago and I don't know if anyone still knows who we are.
—Don't bother, we have to believe in ourselves.
But I look much older now, look at my legs, Elvis.
They're not as long and nice as they used to be.
—I still like them, and I think everyone will like them, Marilyn.
And what about my voice?
—Your voice sounds as soft as the raindrops on the roses I have in my garden.
Oh, Elvis. But don't you think we've been waiting too long?
—No, I think it was right to take a break.
—Marilyn?
Yes, Elvis?
—What do you think about my sideburns?
—Sometimes I think I should better take them off.
Oh, Elvis, I still like it. It looks good.
Mhmm.
—Oh my god, I am a little bit tired.
What happened, Elvis?
—I've been thinking a lot about this whole situation.
Maybe you're not tired then, just a little bit nervous, Elvis.
—Oh, Marilyn, I hope we can handle this situation.
It's the same with me, I don't sleep very well at the moment.
And when I sleep, then I dream of all these things. I see you dancing, Elvis.
—I started practicing a little bit, but only a little bit.
—Oh, Marilyn, look at these mountains! Isn't it wonderful?
That's unbelievably nice, Elvis.
I haven't seen something like this before.
—Oh, yes, but it's really good to be here, Marilyn.
Elvis, do you think I should buy me a new dress?
I think that nowadays people dress in another way.
—I think this dress fits you very well, Marilyn, why should you change something?
Maybe people don't accept me when I look that old-fashioned.
—Oh, Marilyn, we have to believe in ourselves, that's the only thing we can do.
Yeah, you're probably right Elvis.
Let's go back home for a cup of coffee.
—Oh yes, that's a good idea, Marilyn. Let's go back home.
—Yes, I think it could work, Marilyn.
But it's such a long time ago and I don't know if anyone still knows who we are.
—Don't bother, we have to believe in ourselves.
But I look much older now, look at my legs, Elvis.
They're not as long and nice as they used to be.
—I still like them, and I think everyone will like them, Marilyn.
And what about my voice?
—Your voice sounds as soft as the raindrops on the roses I have in my garden.
Oh, Elvis. But don't you think we've been waiting too long?
—No, I think it was right to take a break.
—Marilyn?
Yes, Elvis?
—What do you think about my sideburns?
—Sometimes I think I should better take them off.
Oh, Elvis, I still like it. It looks good.
Mhmm.
—Oh my god, I am a little bit tired.
What happened, Elvis?
—I've been thinking a lot about this whole situation.
Maybe you're not tired then, just a little bit nervous, Elvis.
—Oh, Marilyn, I hope we can handle this situation.
It's the same with me, I don't sleep very well at the moment.
And when I sleep, then I dream of all these things. I see you dancing, Elvis.
—I started practicing a little bit, but only a little bit.
—Oh, Marilyn, look at these mountains! Isn't it wonderful?
That's unbelievably nice, Elvis.
I haven't seen something like this before.
—Oh, yes, but it's really good to be here, Marilyn.
Elvis, do you think I should buy me a new dress?
I think that nowadays people dress in another way.
—I think this dress fits you very well, Marilyn, why should you change something?
Maybe people don't accept me when I look that old-fashioned.
—Oh, Marilyn, we have to believe in ourselves, that's the only thing we can do.
Yeah, you're probably right Elvis.
Let's go back home for a cup of coffee.
—Oh yes, that's a good idea, Marilyn. Let's go back home.
Lyrics submitted by zombiewakeup
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Yo La Tengo
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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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