"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.
Your time was spent
All up in arms
Which cause lament
Which cause alarms
Still reticent to changing guards
It means nothing to me
I feel the small of circumstance
To sell our own at every chance
I'll adorn the walls with such confidence
It means nothing to me
Who do we own?
And have they known?
They mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Please send yourselves
Which version sells
They mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Come take my hand
You will join us and
You'll mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
You've come away
Put us on display
You mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Your wants need us
Our wants lead us
Your gods seize us
Our gods leave us
So here it is
Your empty space
Traded your hearts for twenty spades
You do your part
Your soul's been saved
They mean nothing to me
We build a wall of blindedness
Exhibits here made to impress
We watch them walk
Searching for kindness
It means nothing to me
Who do we own?
And have they known?
They mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Please send yourselves
Which version sells
They mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Come take my hand
You will join us and
You'll mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
You've come away
Put us on display
You mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Your wants need us
Our wants lead us
Your gods seize us
Our gods leave us
All up in arms
Which cause lament
Which cause alarms
Still reticent to changing guards
It means nothing to me
I feel the small of circumstance
To sell our own at every chance
I'll adorn the walls with such confidence
It means nothing to me
Who do we own?
And have they known?
They mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Please send yourselves
Which version sells
They mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Come take my hand
You will join us and
You'll mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
You've come away
Put us on display
You mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Your wants need us
Our wants lead us
Your gods seize us
Our gods leave us
So here it is
Your empty space
Traded your hearts for twenty spades
You do your part
Your soul's been saved
They mean nothing to me
We build a wall of blindedness
Exhibits here made to impress
We watch them walk
Searching for kindness
It means nothing to me
Who do we own?
And have they known?
They mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Please send yourselves
Which version sells
They mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Come take my hand
You will join us and
You'll mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
You've come away
Put us on display
You mean nothing to me
We did this for the company
Your wants need us
Our wants lead us
Your gods seize us
Our gods leave us
Lyrics submitted by littleghost3
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Fast Car
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Great version of a great song,
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Instead of "To this full company", the correct lyrics are "We did this for the company", and in the first verse, instead of "Which cause amends" I think it's actually "Which cause lament"