"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.
Well this is just a simple song
To say what you done
I told you about all those fears
And away they did run
You sure must be strong
And you feel like an ocean
Being warmed by the sun
When I was just nine years old
I swear that I dreamed
Your face on a football field
And a kiss that I kept
Under my vest
Apart from everything
But the heart in my chest
I know that things can really get rough when you go it alone
Don't go thinking you gotta be tough, to play like a stone
Could be there's nothing else in our lives so critical
As this little hole
My life in an upturned boat, marooned on a cliff
You brought me a great big flood
And you gave me a lift
To care, what a gift
You tell me with your tongue
And your breath was in my lungs
And you float over the rift
I know that things can really get rough when you go it alone
Don't go thinking you gotta be tough, to play like a stone
Could be there's nothing else in our lives so critical
As this little hole
Well this will be a simple song
To say what you've done
I told you about all those years
And away they did run
You sure must be strong
And you feel like an ocean
Being warmed by the sun
Remember walking a mile to your house, a glow in the dark
I made a fumblin' play for your heart and the extra, the spark
You wore a charm in the chain that I stole especially for you
Love's such a delicate thing that we do, we've nothing to prove
Which I never knew
To say what you done
I told you about all those fears
And away they did run
You sure must be strong
And you feel like an ocean
Being warmed by the sun
When I was just nine years old
I swear that I dreamed
Your face on a football field
And a kiss that I kept
Under my vest
Apart from everything
But the heart in my chest
I know that things can really get rough when you go it alone
Don't go thinking you gotta be tough, to play like a stone
Could be there's nothing else in our lives so critical
As this little hole
My life in an upturned boat, marooned on a cliff
You brought me a great big flood
And you gave me a lift
To care, what a gift
You tell me with your tongue
And your breath was in my lungs
And you float over the rift
I know that things can really get rough when you go it alone
Don't go thinking you gotta be tough, to play like a stone
Could be there's nothing else in our lives so critical
As this little hole
Well this will be a simple song
To say what you've done
I told you about all those years
And away they did run
You sure must be strong
And you feel like an ocean
Being warmed by the sun
Remember walking a mile to your house, a glow in the dark
I made a fumblin' play for your heart and the extra, the spark
You wore a charm in the chain that I stole especially for you
Love's such a delicate thing that we do, we've nothing to prove
Which I never knew
Lyrics submitted by Konversekid, edited by SoWhy, bassmaster
Simple Song Lyrics as written by James Mercer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I usually don't interpret the song by the video but this song seemed to fit it quite nicely. Sometimes you don't really listen to the lyrics but you feel the song and the video helps to capture and perpetuate the feeling. It made me think of my childhood and I understood what the video was getting at. Through anger, resentment and any bitter feelings that we've built up during our lives, there can always be joy, laughter and love if we try and remember the goodness.