"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.
Have you ever passed the corner of Forth and Grand?
Where a little ball o' rhythm has a shoe-shine stand
People gather 'round and they clap their hands
He's a great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy
He charges you a nickel just to shine one shoe
He makes the oldest kind o' leather look like new
You feel as though you want to dance when he gets through
He's a great big bundle o' joy, he pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy
It's a wonder that the rag don't tear. the way he makes it pop
You ought to see him fan the air
With his hoppity-hippity-hippity-hoppity-hoppity-hippity-hop
He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get up early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise 'n shine, with the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag, the Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy
(instrumental break)
It's a wonder that the rag don't tear, the way he makes it pop
Just listen to him fan the air, here he goes!
He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get up early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise 'n shine, with the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag, the Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy.
Where a little ball o' rhythm has a shoe-shine stand
People gather 'round and they clap their hands
He's a great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy
He charges you a nickel just to shine one shoe
He makes the oldest kind o' leather look like new
You feel as though you want to dance when he gets through
He's a great big bundle o' joy, he pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy
It's a wonder that the rag don't tear. the way he makes it pop
You ought to see him fan the air
With his hoppity-hippity-hippity-hoppity-hoppity-hippity-hop
He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get up early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise 'n shine, with the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag, the Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy
(instrumental break)
It's a wonder that the rag don't tear, the way he makes it pop
Just listen to him fan the air, here he goes!
He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get up early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise 'n shine, with the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag, the Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy Lyrics as written by Jack Stapp Harry Stone
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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