"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.
Erica, Erica
Is watching
Danielle, Danielle
Is hiding
Erica, Erica
Is counting
Sixteen, fifteen, fourteen
Twelve, eleven, ten, nine
Erica, Erica
Is counting
Sun is setting, see
In the garden it's starting to rain
The trees are trembling
Erica's repeating
Erica, there is no laughter in the garden [repeat]
Erica is feeling something
Danielle is hiding
She's counting
Sixteen, fifteen, fourteen,
Thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten,
Nine, eight
Sun is leaving the scene
Took a look and turning away
The trees are trembling
Erica's repeating
Is watching
Danielle, Danielle
Is hiding
Erica, Erica
Is counting
Sixteen, fifteen, fourteen
Twelve, eleven, ten, nine
Erica, Erica
Is counting
Sun is setting, see
In the garden it's starting to rain
The trees are trembling
Erica's repeating
Erica, there is no laughter in the garden [repeat]
Erica is feeling something
Danielle is hiding
She's counting
Sixteen, fifteen, fourteen,
Thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten,
Nine, eight
Sun is leaving the scene
Took a look and turning away
The trees are trembling
Erica's repeating
Lyrics submitted by stentorian
Sixteen, Fifteen, Fourteen Lyrics as written by Polly Jean Harvey John Parish
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I've noticed that with this album, and with Let England Shake, the lyrics included with the album aren't necessarily what she actually sings on the tracks. So perhaps people aren't wrong in thinking she's singing Danielle, but I also think she's just exaggerating the name for effect "Daanieeelll".
When I first heard it I thought it was Danielle and that it was about two people who were going from childhood to adulthood. Growing up but still wanting to play. When you're an adult you don't get to play hide and seek in the garden. "There is no laughter in the garden." I still think that's what it means, even if it's Daniel.
Anyway, the lyrics in the AWAMWB booklet are:
Erika is watching. Daniel is hiding. Erika is counting,"16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9"..... Erika is coming. The sun is setting the scene. In the garden it's starting to rain. The trees are trembling. Erika's repeating,"oh, oh, oh, oh"..... Erika is feeling something. Daniel is hiding. She's counting,"16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4"..... The sun is leaving the scene. It took a look and turned away. The trees are trembling. Erika's repeating,"oh, oh, oh, oh"..... There is no laughter in the garden.