"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.
I feel so good come payday
I think of all the things I'm gonna buy
When I pick up my pay
Don't you know, but then they hand me that little brown envelope
I peep inside, Lord I lose all hope
'Cause from those total wages earned
Down to that net amount that's due
I feel the painful sense of loss between the two
There goes that bracelet for her arm
There goes that new fence for my farm
There goes that brand new Pontiac
There goes the shirt right off my back
You can dream about a honeymoon for two
You can dream but that's about all you can do
'Cause by the time old uncle Sam gets through with you
You can buy her a pair of hose
A little powder for her nose
And take her down to Sloppy Joe's for beer and stew
Them are the facts after tax
You can dream about vacation in the sun
You can dream but you can't never have one
'Cause by the time your good old uncle Sam gets done
You've got just enough for gas
To see them city limits pass
And if you get back home fourth class I'd say you won
There goes that bracelet for her arm
There goes that new fence for my farm
Send back that short wave radio
Cancel that trip to Mexico
Forget that brand new Pontiac
There goes the shirt right off my back
I think of all the things I'm gonna buy
When I pick up my pay
Don't you know, but then they hand me that little brown envelope
I peep inside, Lord I lose all hope
'Cause from those total wages earned
Down to that net amount that's due
I feel the painful sense of loss between the two
There goes that bracelet for her arm
There goes that new fence for my farm
There goes that brand new Pontiac
There goes the shirt right off my back
You can dream about a honeymoon for two
You can dream but that's about all you can do
'Cause by the time old uncle Sam gets through with you
You can buy her a pair of hose
A little powder for her nose
And take her down to Sloppy Joe's for beer and stew
Them are the facts after tax
You can dream about vacation in the sun
You can dream but you can't never have one
'Cause by the time your good old uncle Sam gets done
You've got just enough for gas
To see them city limits pass
And if you get back home fourth class I'd say you won
There goes that bracelet for her arm
There goes that new fence for my farm
Send back that short wave radio
Cancel that trip to Mexico
Forget that brand new Pontiac
There goes the shirt right off my back
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
After Taxes Lyrics as written by Jerry Leiber Billy Wheeler
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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