"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.
I ride east every other Friday but if I had it my way
A day would not be wasted on this drive
And I want so bad to hold you
Son, there's things I haven't told you
Your mom and me couldn't get along
So I'll drive
And I'll think about my life and wonder why
That I slowly die inside
Every time I turn that truck around right at the Georgia line
And I count the days and the miles back home to you
On that Highway 20 ride
A day might come you'll realize that if you see through my eyes
There was no other way to work it out
And a part of you might hate me
But son, please don't mistake me
For the man that didn't care at all
And I'll drive
And I'll think about my life and wonder why
That I slowly die inside
Every time I turn that truck around right at the Georgia line
And I count the days and the miles back home to you
On that Highway 20 ride
So when you drive and the years go flying by
I hope you smile if I ever cross your mind
It was a pleasure of my life and I cherished every time
And my whole world it begins and ends with you
On that Highway 20 ride
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, 20 ride
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, 20 ride
Whoa-oh-oh-oh (highway 20 ride)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh (and I'll ride)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh
A day would not be wasted on this drive
And I want so bad to hold you
Son, there's things I haven't told you
Your mom and me couldn't get along
So I'll drive
And I'll think about my life and wonder why
That I slowly die inside
Every time I turn that truck around right at the Georgia line
And I count the days and the miles back home to you
On that Highway 20 ride
A day might come you'll realize that if you see through my eyes
There was no other way to work it out
And a part of you might hate me
But son, please don't mistake me
For the man that didn't care at all
And I'll drive
And I'll think about my life and wonder why
That I slowly die inside
Every time I turn that truck around right at the Georgia line
And I count the days and the miles back home to you
On that Highway 20 ride
So when you drive and the years go flying by
I hope you smile if I ever cross your mind
It was a pleasure of my life and I cherished every time
And my whole world it begins and ends with you
On that Highway 20 ride
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, 20 ride
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, 20 ride
Whoa-oh-oh-oh (highway 20 ride)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh (and I'll ride)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh
Lyrics submitted by hornbogen34
Highway 20 Ride Lyrics as written by Wyatt Durrette Zachry Alexander Brown
Lyrics © BLACKSTONE ENTERTAINMENT, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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at the beginning it doesnt say "Some of the things I haven't told you" it's "Son there's things I haven't told you" but anyway i have to say this is just a gorgeous song and Zac Brown just keeps em coming