"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.
There are ten thousand graves in Hong Kong Protestant Cemetery
Every one of them says "born and died, and the rest might be history"
Walking there I'd cry
For my love was there to lie
I never knew shame to be so refreshing
I'd sing Georgia on my mind, she would be, I'd be progressing...
Was the day of the boats for the fellas in coats in the Navy
They'd be all around, change the face of this town cos they're lazy
1952 was the year that I lost you
I was with the soldiers in the school hall
Didn't know that you were ill
You didn't seem old
China so you so blue so who's aboard the boatsie stay
Some people are fixing the terrible
Mixing the crew of all the sailors say,
Your life might be a a mess of lights
When your on your won
But the lights you'll from a line that will be pointing all the way home
I was here before, my name was on the door
To a score of his to get to your seat
I'll send the next in line, he'll be a clean sheet
Every one of them says "born and died, and the rest might be history"
Walking there I'd cry
For my love was there to lie
I never knew shame to be so refreshing
I'd sing Georgia on my mind, she would be, I'd be progressing...
Was the day of the boats for the fellas in coats in the Navy
They'd be all around, change the face of this town cos they're lazy
1952 was the year that I lost you
I was with the soldiers in the school hall
Didn't know that you were ill
You didn't seem old
China so you so blue so who's aboard the boatsie stay
Some people are fixing the terrible
Mixing the crew of all the sailors say,
Your life might be a a mess of lights
When your on your won
But the lights you'll from a line that will be pointing all the way home
I was here before, my name was on the door
To a score of his to get to your seat
I'll send the next in line, he'll be a clean sheet
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Hong Kong Cemetry Lyrics as written by Joe Zeitlan Adam Beach
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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