"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.
She listens to quote unquote punk but loves to fuck to calypso
Self esteem through when she upgraded from crack to crystal
Irresistible when the buzz is on and when the buzz is gone
She’s always trying to turn the buttons on
Incompleted puzzle cause she keeps breaking the pieces
Latched and attached to any cat that treats her halfway decent
I laugh in peace whenever she’s around because she likes it
How the fuck did I get twisted tight with this destructive vice grips
Speaking of grip never could I grip that drug use
The sex was power but the powder cut the slug loose
And now she feels resentment cause all I want is friendship
I masturbate before we hang out keeps me from feeling tempted
Prevented, instead of searching for solution
Mind bent from time spent no grant for restitution
Time to move then the taste of truth got you potent
Open, adjust my ignorance quotient
Now who's the creep and who the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free from artificial feelings
Who's the creep and who the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free from artificial feelings
Yeah baby I was a liar and baby maybe I cheated
But baby that shits minor you received what you needed
Dialog ears fears tears thoughts and a shoulder
And this overwhelming feeling that I ought to scold you
But no I hold you, in fact I held you up
If you were thirsty I held the cup
If you needed it I felt you up
I tell you what, why don't you tell me what the hell is up
I think that it’d be best if I find my own way to the exit
Lets get it straight, wait do I say that too often
None the less I appreciate the observation
Now if I'm not mistaken you said it’s the best
When you mix your crystal meth with population
I lost my patients health related self inflated
Never had a clue that we was through till I found somebody new
And now I'm hated for my flaws said that we'd be cool always
I never indicated how long always was
Now who's the creep and who’s the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free from artificial feelings
Who's the creep and who’s the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free from artificial feelings
You know what? I hate it when you tell me about the average
You die to love men that try to rip your heart out through your nasal passage
Now how did I manage to be the one that's labeled savage
I found the package damaged and I tried to apply a bandage
Habits, no money you live at home and moms tripping
You need a gig that makes tips got a job stripping
She goes naked on a pole, you know she’s got soul
And she’s got holes and she had goals but she got low
Age 20 seen plenty bodies 40 but the mind state is 16 so save it she ain’t listening
I miss being a savior but the behavior is flavor enhanced
Made a name became the favorite on the table dance
Don't you know lifestyles tend to steer
Around ones career you still broke cause of your joke peers
I choke tears for everyone that wears the shoes
Had it up to here with the paranoia and the where were you's
But I'm still there when she’s got something real to say
And I must care otherwise I would not feel this way
Feel your way through it like I felt I tried to help
But common sense builds when you find consequence by yourself
Who's the creep and who’s the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free from artificial feelings
Who's the creep and who’s the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free I’m feeling free
Baby baby baby I don't mean to be rude but I know the cause of your bloody attitude
Baby baby baby I don't mean to be rude but I know the cause of your bloody attitude
attitude attitude
I gotta go I’ll call you back.....
Self esteem through when she upgraded from crack to crystal
Irresistible when the buzz is on and when the buzz is gone
She’s always trying to turn the buttons on
Incompleted puzzle cause she keeps breaking the pieces
Latched and attached to any cat that treats her halfway decent
I laugh in peace whenever she’s around because she likes it
How the fuck did I get twisted tight with this destructive vice grips
Speaking of grip never could I grip that drug use
The sex was power but the powder cut the slug loose
And now she feels resentment cause all I want is friendship
I masturbate before we hang out keeps me from feeling tempted
Prevented, instead of searching for solution
Mind bent from time spent no grant for restitution
Time to move then the taste of truth got you potent
Open, adjust my ignorance quotient
Now who's the creep and who the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free from artificial feelings
Who's the creep and who the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free from artificial feelings
Yeah baby I was a liar and baby maybe I cheated
But baby that shits minor you received what you needed
Dialog ears fears tears thoughts and a shoulder
And this overwhelming feeling that I ought to scold you
But no I hold you, in fact I held you up
If you were thirsty I held the cup
If you needed it I felt you up
I tell you what, why don't you tell me what the hell is up
I think that it’d be best if I find my own way to the exit
Lets get it straight, wait do I say that too often
None the less I appreciate the observation
Now if I'm not mistaken you said it’s the best
When you mix your crystal meth with population
I lost my patients health related self inflated
Never had a clue that we was through till I found somebody new
And now I'm hated for my flaws said that we'd be cool always
I never indicated how long always was
Now who's the creep and who’s the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free from artificial feelings
Who's the creep and who’s the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free from artificial feelings
You know what? I hate it when you tell me about the average
You die to love men that try to rip your heart out through your nasal passage
Now how did I manage to be the one that's labeled savage
I found the package damaged and I tried to apply a bandage
Habits, no money you live at home and moms tripping
You need a gig that makes tips got a job stripping
She goes naked on a pole, you know she’s got soul
And she’s got holes and she had goals but she got low
Age 20 seen plenty bodies 40 but the mind state is 16 so save it she ain’t listening
I miss being a savior but the behavior is flavor enhanced
Made a name became the favorite on the table dance
Don't you know lifestyles tend to steer
Around ones career you still broke cause of your joke peers
I choke tears for everyone that wears the shoes
Had it up to here with the paranoia and the where were you's
But I'm still there when she’s got something real to say
And I must care otherwise I would not feel this way
Feel your way through it like I felt I tried to help
But common sense builds when you find consequence by yourself
Who's the creep and who’s the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free from artificial feelings
Who's the creep and who’s the weakling
SPEED QUEEN
What’s a freak and what’s a cheap fling
SPEED QUEEN
From the clit ring to the g-string
SPEED QUEEN
I’m feeling free I’m feeling free
Baby baby baby I don't mean to be rude but I know the cause of your bloody attitude
Baby baby baby I don't mean to be rude but I know the cause of your bloody attitude
attitude attitude
I gotta go I’ll call you back.....
Lyrics submitted by TaintPaul
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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Great version of a great song,
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Page
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slug sounds so young in this song. i love it. dope, real hip-hop.