"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.
From city streets you came with something true
From dirt and smoke you breathed in something new
And when you laid all before you, they took what you made
And threw it away, the gift that you gave
With hands of gold and images strong
You cast the shape of things to cling on
And when you tried to show them, they took what you made
And gave it away, the gift that you gave
And in return, I give you honest love
These things I see around me
I see with my soul, I feel in my heart
The gift that you gave and in return I give you my respect
That's all that's mine for giving, I've learned from it all
The textures and form, the gift that you gave
And when they ask what prize I treasure most
What legacy I cherish, I say from the heart
The passion and art, that's the gift that you gave
From dirt and smoke you breathed in something new
And when you laid all before you, they took what you made
And threw it away, the gift that you gave
With hands of gold and images strong
You cast the shape of things to cling on
And when you tried to show them, they took what you made
And gave it away, the gift that you gave
And in return, I give you honest love
These things I see around me
I see with my soul, I feel in my heart
The gift that you gave and in return I give you my respect
That's all that's mine for giving, I've learned from it all
The textures and form, the gift that you gave
And when they ask what prize I treasure most
What legacy I cherish, I say from the heart
The passion and art, that's the gift that you gave
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Gift Lyrics as written by Midge Ure
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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