"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 won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
Uh and left so far out from the shore
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore
Oh no I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
And left so far out from the shore
Oh that I can't find my way back, my way anymore
No, I
No, I
Forgive them that tear down my soul
And bless them that they might grow old
And free them so that they may know
That it's never too late
For the many times what seemed like a memory
I searched and found the ways you used to lure me in
Oh, I found the ways, oh why it had to be
Mired in denial and saw all the rain
If we ever find it's true
That we have the strength to choose
Oh, freedom or the chains
We have together
I'm gonna tell you a story
Stand up for righteousness
What? (Stand up for justice)
What? (Stand up for truth)
How can a person grow up with all this around them?
You got to call on that something
Where does it come from?
That can make a way out of no way
All this hatred?
What we've got here is
(Fear)
That power that can make a way out of now no way
Failure to communicate
I tell ya I seen the lightning
I've heard the thunder roll
Everybody's acting like we can do anything
And it don't matter what we do
Maybe we gotta be extra careful
Because maybe it matters more than We even know
Sometimes (hatred isn't somethin' you're born with)
I feel discouraged, it gets taught
Sometimes I feel discouraged, I felt this fear
He promised never to leave me
Never to leave me alone, no never alone, no never alone
Let's get something straight, alright?
Promised never to leave me
This whole thing was fucked up
Never to leave me alone
All men betray all lose heart
I don't want to lose heart, I want to believe
Black men and white men together at the table of brotherhood
I have a dream
Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last
Oh I won't be told anymore (if we ever find it's true)
That I've been brought down in this storm (that we have the strength to choose)
And left so far out from the shore (oh, freedom or the chains)
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (we have together)
Oh no I won't be told anymore (if we ever find it's true)
That I've been brought back in this storm (that we have the strength to choose)
And left so far out from the shore (oh, freedom or the chains)
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (we have together)
(Oh, oh)
That I've been brought down in this storm
Uh and left so far out from the shore
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore
Oh no I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
And left so far out from the shore
Oh that I can't find my way back, my way anymore
No, I
No, I
Forgive them that tear down my soul
And bless them that they might grow old
And free them so that they may know
That it's never too late
For the many times what seemed like a memory
I searched and found the ways you used to lure me in
Oh, I found the ways, oh why it had to be
Mired in denial and saw all the rain
If we ever find it's true
That we have the strength to choose
Oh, freedom or the chains
We have together
I'm gonna tell you a story
Stand up for righteousness
What? (Stand up for justice)
What? (Stand up for truth)
How can a person grow up with all this around them?
You got to call on that something
Where does it come from?
That can make a way out of no way
All this hatred?
What we've got here is
(Fear)
That power that can make a way out of now no way
Failure to communicate
I tell ya I seen the lightning
I've heard the thunder roll
Everybody's acting like we can do anything
And it don't matter what we do
Maybe we gotta be extra careful
Because maybe it matters more than We even know
Sometimes (hatred isn't somethin' you're born with)
I feel discouraged, it gets taught
Sometimes I feel discouraged, I felt this fear
He promised never to leave me
Never to leave me alone, no never alone, no never alone
Let's get something straight, alright?
Promised never to leave me
This whole thing was fucked up
Never to leave me alone
All men betray all lose heart
I don't want to lose heart, I want to believe
Black men and white men together at the table of brotherhood
I have a dream
Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last
Oh I won't be told anymore (if we ever find it's true)
That I've been brought down in this storm (that we have the strength to choose)
And left so far out from the shore (oh, freedom or the chains)
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (we have together)
Oh no I won't be told anymore (if we ever find it's true)
That I've been brought back in this storm (that we have the strength to choose)
And left so far out from the shore (oh, freedom or the chains)
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (we have together)
(Oh, oh)
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Madagascar Lyrics as written by Jr. Martin King
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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Correct and complete lyrics from the album.
I won't be told anymore, That I've been brought down in this storm, And left so far out from the shore, But I can't find my way back, my way anymore
Oh no I won't be told anymore, That I've been brought down in this storm, And left so far out from the shore, Oh that I can't find my way back, my way anymore no
Oh I, I
Forgive them that tear down my soul, And bless them that they might grow old, And free them so that they may know, That it's never too late
For the many times what seemed like a memory, I've searched and found the ways, You used to lure me in. Oh, I've found the ways. Oh, why it had to be My'd own denial, and so afraid
If we ever find it's true, that we have the strength to choose, Oh, free of all the chains, we have to together
"I'm gonna tell you a story"
"Stand up for righteousness"
"Eh.. what..."
"Stand up for justice"
"Eh.. what..."
"Stand up for truth"
"How can a person grow up with all this around them?"
"You gotta call on that something"
"Where does it come from?"
"That can make a way out of no way"
"All this hatred"
"What we've got here is..."
"That power that can make a way out of no way"
"Failure to communicate"
"I tell you I've seen the lightning flash, I've heard the thunder roar"
"Everybody's actin' like we can do anything and it don't matter what we do. Maybe we gotta be extra careful, because maybe it matters more than we even know."
"Sometimes"
"Hatred isn't something you're born with"
"I feel discouraged"
"It gets taught"
"Sometimes I feel discouraged"
"I felt this... fear!"
"He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone. No, never alone, no, never alone."
"Let's get somethin' straight alright?"
"He promised never to leave me..."
"This whole thing is fucked up!"
"Never to leave me alone."
"Well, all men betray, all lose heart"
"I don't wanna lose heart! I wanna believe!"
"Black men and white men together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream."
"Free at last, free at last."
"Thank God almighty. We are free at last!"
Oh I won't be told anymore, (If we ever find it true) That I've been brought down in this storm, (That we have the strength to choose) And left so far out from the shore, (Oh, freed of all the chains) That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (We have together)
Oh, no I won't be told anymore, (If we ever find it true) That I've been brought down in this storm, (That we have the strength to choose) And left so far out from the shore, (Oh, freed of all the chains) That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (We held together)
Mired in denial and so afraid