"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.
Microphone Check, I make em all bounce,
every Teller in Bank of America, make em all count.
You gone need the whole staff to add up the amount...
it's gonna take to pay me off to keep me out your house,
to keep me in my zone so that I don't zone out.
I'm Rich and Po' like Zone 4, thoughts is deep like Tone Loc,
walk with me like old folk, 'cross your street a score's goal'ed,
I don't rap I hockey rink...'cause my flow is so cold!
I am on my "umm hmm," they are on they "Oh, No!"
I am really in here (hair), they ain't real like Soul Glo.
Don't you know I'm so sho, them n****'s got no Glow,
find a master for you can come back into the DoJo!
Lupe got his mind right, N**** this is my mic
and I've come to take it all back like Miller High Life
He must not be tied tight...back against the wall...
he will throw a ball, like he playin' Jai Alai.
I'll do the register, you just get them fries right.
I don't trust America, after watchin' Zeitgeist.
Take a look at my stripes, chest looks like a tiger' arm
and I'm hot as tiger balm, fire like a five-alarm,
(???.....) get ya fire-fighter on....
I ain't worried 'bout you hoes (hose). I don't even need to roll.
I turn down your Ex like how you put your tires on.
Once I get these tires on I buy a bomb and tie it on
and ride this around the entire song, find a line to drive it on,
park it near a metaphor, wait for it, the timer's on,
you can turn your hydrants on, I'll just turn my wipers on,
wipe it off then wipe me down but don't forget about my bomb!
every Teller in Bank of America, make em all count.
You gone need the whole staff to add up the amount...
it's gonna take to pay me off to keep me out your house,
to keep me in my zone so that I don't zone out.
I'm Rich and Po' like Zone 4, thoughts is deep like Tone Loc,
walk with me like old folk, 'cross your street a score's goal'ed,
I don't rap I hockey rink...'cause my flow is so cold!
I am on my "umm hmm," they are on they "Oh, No!"
I am really in here (hair), they ain't real like Soul Glo.
Don't you know I'm so sho, them n****'s got no Glow,
find a master for you can come back into the DoJo!
Lupe got his mind right, N**** this is my mic
and I've come to take it all back like Miller High Life
He must not be tied tight...back against the wall...
he will throw a ball, like he playin' Jai Alai.
I'll do the register, you just get them fries right.
I don't trust America, after watchin' Zeitgeist.
Take a look at my stripes, chest looks like a tiger' arm
and I'm hot as tiger balm, fire like a five-alarm,
(???.....) get ya fire-fighter on....
I ain't worried 'bout you hoes (hose). I don't even need to roll.
I turn down your Ex like how you put your tires on.
Once I get these tires on I buy a bomb and tie it on
and ride this around the entire song, find a line to drive it on,
park it near a metaphor, wait for it, the timer's on,
you can turn your hydrants on, I'll just turn my wipers on,
wipe it off then wipe me down but don't forget about my bomb!
Lyrics submitted by LIT U UP
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Damn.. Lu flow is sick on this.. Mos def, he's back..
Lupe fiasco is hip-hop.<br /> <br /> He often makes references to how the industry tries to pay him off to dumb down his music and perpetuate the bullshit that traps young people in a lifestyle that leads to death. But clearly he is a man of his craft and a real artist. It's ironic how he gets on a song that's practically about nothin, "all the way turned up", and makes it something with substance. He's doing the registar while they just cook the fries!!....