"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.
When you're walking down the street
I'll be the one that stares like a statue
You turn the corner
I'll be the one that follows you downtown
When you finally notice me
I'll be the one fumbling with his feelings
Totally oblivious to anything and everything else around
Girl, when we met
I'll be the one that showers you with attention
To win your love
I'll fight until the very end
When you treat me like a fool
I'll be the one that doesn't need redemption
Yeah, drive me away
I'll keep coming back again and again
I'll be the rain if you want me to be
Help you to groa with no guarantee
Even be the clown sad but true
But don't use me up
Or I'll be the one that used to worship you
When silence fills your world
I'll be the one that knows what you're thinking
And when passion burns like fire
I'll be the one bathing in the light
When the curse of darkness falls
I'll be the one who offers a candle
I'll even be the cushion
For things that go crazy in the night
I'll be the rain if you want me to be
Help you to groa with no guarantee
Even be the clown sad but true
But don't use me up
Or I'll be the one that used to worship you
I'll be the rain if you want me to be
Help you to groa with no guarantee
Even be the clown sad but true
But don't use me up
Or I'll be the one that used to worship you
I'll be the one that stares like a statue
You turn the corner
I'll be the one that follows you downtown
When you finally notice me
I'll be the one fumbling with his feelings
Totally oblivious to anything and everything else around
Girl, when we met
I'll be the one that showers you with attention
To win your love
I'll fight until the very end
When you treat me like a fool
I'll be the one that doesn't need redemption
Yeah, drive me away
I'll keep coming back again and again
I'll be the rain if you want me to be
Help you to groa with no guarantee
Even be the clown sad but true
But don't use me up
Or I'll be the one that used to worship you
When silence fills your world
I'll be the one that knows what you're thinking
And when passion burns like fire
I'll be the one bathing in the light
When the curse of darkness falls
I'll be the one who offers a candle
I'll even be the cushion
For things that go crazy in the night
I'll be the rain if you want me to be
Help you to groa with no guarantee
Even be the clown sad but true
But don't use me up
Or I'll be the one that used to worship you
I'll be the rain if you want me to be
Help you to groa with no guarantee
Even be the clown sad but true
But don't use me up
Or I'll be the one that used to worship you
Lyrics submitted by Icancountto20
I'll Be the One Lyrics as written by Warren Haynes
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I originally heard this song on Pandora. It is a powerfully acoustic performace live at Bonaroo. This song is the obvious devotion of one man to one girl. He tells her that he will be there for her, in whatever mode she needs him to be. However, he warns her to not push him away too hard or to use him for all he has. Otherwise, he'll "be the one who used to worship you."