"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.
Poison Oak, darling, I know where you've been
Marking off boxes on your checklist of sin
Your father oughta have his old head busted in
For raising you up how he did
You know that your baby is slow and she's thin
Yellow with jaundice all over her skin
I'd build a big fire and throw your mother right in
For raising you up like she did
But I know my blood when I taste it
And hey, Poison Oak, you're alright
So buckle up little Virginia
And stay 'till the end of the night
You wear a suede hat with a fiery brim
And beat cotton dry of each droplet within
They oughta round up your lovers and all of your kin
For letting you go on like you did
But I know deep down that your heart is pure gold
And someday you'll buy back the things you have sold
And someday you won't look so broken and old
And you'll think of the good of your kid
And I know my blood when I'm blinded
And hey, Poison Oak you're OK
So tuck in your little Virginia
And stay 'till the end of the day
Poison Oak, darling, I know where you've been
Marking off boxes on your checklist of sin
Your father oughta have his old head busted in
For raising you up how he did
Marking off boxes on your checklist of sin
Your father oughta have his old head busted in
For raising you up how he did
You know that your baby is slow and she's thin
Yellow with jaundice all over her skin
I'd build a big fire and throw your mother right in
For raising you up like she did
But I know my blood when I taste it
And hey, Poison Oak, you're alright
So buckle up little Virginia
And stay 'till the end of the night
You wear a suede hat with a fiery brim
And beat cotton dry of each droplet within
They oughta round up your lovers and all of your kin
For letting you go on like you did
But I know deep down that your heart is pure gold
And someday you'll buy back the things you have sold
And someday you won't look so broken and old
And you'll think of the good of your kid
And I know my blood when I'm blinded
And hey, Poison Oak you're OK
So tuck in your little Virginia
And stay 'till the end of the day
Poison Oak, darling, I know where you've been
Marking off boxes on your checklist of sin
Your father oughta have his old head busted in
For raising you up how he did
Lyrics submitted by kingharvest88
POISON OAK Lyrics as written by James Toth
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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