"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.
Protect your Jimmy, keep it fresh
anything is everything, and more is less
it's all sight, sound, smell, taste and felts
knuckle up and buckle up, your safety belt
lift with your legs, speak with your mind
see the bigger screen, read between the lines
brush your teeth, squash the beef
judge the tree by both sides of the leaf
save your soul (soul), spend your money
laugh at his jokes and pretend they're funny
talk about your goals (goals) and hide your wants
give'em something they can hold and get a better response
believe in karma, truth and honor
respect the youth and understand the drama
think about your move before you make it
and see the motive for the info and advice before you take it
Traffic lights, stop signs
cops and crimes, top of the line
I lost my mind, I found my feet
Look over my shoulder before I cross the street
dead zone, when in Rome
I'm begging for attention to be left alone
Headphones and flesh tones
and little Sluggo's having trouble trying to get home
Write a song, write a million songs
but they all the same song it's like one long song
fight the wrong and make'em sing along
and continue to consume until the hunger's gone
speak your peace and move on, move on
I need to buy time but first I gotta find the coupon
and when I climb the mountain, I'm gonna teach. I promise
but for now. you can reach me at the office
get a job, catch a bus, learn something, cook dinner
find a mate and copulate but try to pick a winner
go to school, teach something, be a voice, paint a picture
"Turn the TV off man you don't need a babysitter!"
Read a book, write a book, plot a move, take over
watch for motorcycles, calm down, be a donor
nine out of ten doctors prefer their secretaries 'cause they sick of going home and going down on what they married
do your homework, solve the problem, celebrate
tip the bartender, breath and meditate
oversleep, wake up late, push snooze, take a bath
when you finish with your drink they let you keep the glass
skip class, jump curbs, walk the dog, run slow
leap fate, stand tall, sit still, take control,
"yo, you throw like a girl and you hate the world and you lost all your nuts trying to chase a squirrel!"
but some of these cats don't know how to meow
I try to open my eyes to take a look at me now
alphabetize the records that sit on the shelf
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
hey yo they want the life but they don't want the light
they act like they don't know wrong from right
they say they want the truth, but they have the truth
they act like they forgot how to move - DEAD
I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I said I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I said I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
anything is everything, and more is less
it's all sight, sound, smell, taste and felts
knuckle up and buckle up, your safety belt
lift with your legs, speak with your mind
see the bigger screen, read between the lines
brush your teeth, squash the beef
judge the tree by both sides of the leaf
save your soul (soul), spend your money
laugh at his jokes and pretend they're funny
talk about your goals (goals) and hide your wants
give'em something they can hold and get a better response
believe in karma, truth and honor
respect the youth and understand the drama
think about your move before you make it
and see the motive for the info and advice before you take it
Traffic lights, stop signs
cops and crimes, top of the line
I lost my mind, I found my feet
Look over my shoulder before I cross the street
dead zone, when in Rome
I'm begging for attention to be left alone
Headphones and flesh tones
and little Sluggo's having trouble trying to get home
Write a song, write a million songs
but they all the same song it's like one long song
fight the wrong and make'em sing along
and continue to consume until the hunger's gone
speak your peace and move on, move on
I need to buy time but first I gotta find the coupon
and when I climb the mountain, I'm gonna teach. I promise
but for now. you can reach me at the office
get a job, catch a bus, learn something, cook dinner
find a mate and copulate but try to pick a winner
go to school, teach something, be a voice, paint a picture
"Turn the TV off man you don't need a babysitter!"
Read a book, write a book, plot a move, take over
watch for motorcycles, calm down, be a donor
nine out of ten doctors prefer their secretaries 'cause they sick of going home and going down on what they married
do your homework, solve the problem, celebrate
tip the bartender, breath and meditate
oversleep, wake up late, push snooze, take a bath
when you finish with your drink they let you keep the glass
skip class, jump curbs, walk the dog, run slow
leap fate, stand tall, sit still, take control,
"yo, you throw like a girl and you hate the world and you lost all your nuts trying to chase a squirrel!"
but some of these cats don't know how to meow
I try to open my eyes to take a look at me now
alphabetize the records that sit on the shelf
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
hey yo they want the life but they don't want the light
they act like they don't know wrong from right
they say they want the truth, but they have the truth
they act like they forgot how to move - DEAD
I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I said I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I said I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
Lyrics submitted by eldorrado57
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Fast Car
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This is easily my favorite Atmosphere song. Amazing.