"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.
Now the redheaded stranger, from Blue Rock, Montana
Rode into town one day
Between his knees was a raging black stallion
Walkin' behind was a bay
Now the redheaded stranger had eyes like the thunder
His lips were sad and tight
Cause his little lost love lay asleep on the hillside
And his heart was heavy as night
[Chorus]
So don't boss him
Don't cross him
He's wild in his sorrow
He's riding and hidin' his pain
Don't fight him
Don't spite him
Just wait 'til tomorrow
Maybe he'll ride on again
Now the yellow-haired lady leaned out of her window
And watched as he passed her away
She drew back at fear at the sight of the stallion
But cast greedy eyes on the bay
But she didn't know that the dancin' bay pony
Meant more to him than life
Cause this was the horse that his little lost darlin'
Had ridden when she was his wife
[Chorus]
Now the yellow-haired lady went down to the tavern
And looked up the stranger there
When he bought her some drinks, and he gave her some money
But she just didn't seem to care
She followed him out as he saddled the stallion
And he laughed when she grabbed for the bay
Well he shot her so quick, they had no time to warn her
She never heard anyone say
[Chorus]
Now the yellow-haired lady was buried at sunset
The stranger went free, of course
Cause you can't hang a man for shootin' a woman
Who's tryin' to steal your horse
Now this is the tale of the redheaded stranger
And if he should pass your way
Stay out of the path of the raging black stallion
And don't lay a hand on the bay
Rode into town one day
Between his knees was a raging black stallion
Walkin' behind was a bay
Now the redheaded stranger had eyes like the thunder
His lips were sad and tight
Cause his little lost love lay asleep on the hillside
And his heart was heavy as night
[Chorus]
So don't boss him
Don't cross him
He's wild in his sorrow
He's riding and hidin' his pain
Don't fight him
Don't spite him
Just wait 'til tomorrow
Maybe he'll ride on again
Now the yellow-haired lady leaned out of her window
And watched as he passed her away
She drew back at fear at the sight of the stallion
But cast greedy eyes on the bay
But she didn't know that the dancin' bay pony
Meant more to him than life
Cause this was the horse that his little lost darlin'
Had ridden when she was his wife
[Chorus]
Now the yellow-haired lady went down to the tavern
And looked up the stranger there
When he bought her some drinks, and he gave her some money
But she just didn't seem to care
She followed him out as he saddled the stallion
And he laughed when she grabbed for the bay
Well he shot her so quick, they had no time to warn her
She never heard anyone say
[Chorus]
Now the yellow-haired lady was buried at sunset
The stranger went free, of course
Cause you can't hang a man for shootin' a woman
Who's tryin' to steal your horse
Now this is the tale of the redheaded stranger
And if he should pass your way
Stay out of the path of the raging black stallion
And don't lay a hand on the bay
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Red Headed Stranger Lyrics as written by Edith L Calisch Carl Stutz
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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