"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.
Way up, way up
Way up, way up
Way up, way up
Way up
High up in Jerusalem
When I die
Way up, way up
Way up, way up
High up in Jerusalem
When I die
God knows I'm gonna
Walk in Jerusalem
Talk in Jerusalem
Sing in Jerusalem
Be in Jerusalem
High up in Jerusalem when I die
Oh, be in Jerusalem
Sing in Jerusalem
Shout in Jerusalem
Pray in Jerusalem
High up in Jerusalem when I die
Hmm, when I get down to the river
I'm gonna stick my sword in the sand
For I spy the old ship of Zion
She took a-many to the Promised Land
Way over in Buelah
Where there ain't no dying there
Where the saints shoutin' victory
Oh, they singin', Lord, everywhere
Way over in Buelah
I hear the voice of friends I've known
They been gone on, gone on to Glory
Well, well, a long time ago
They been waitin'
They been watchin'
They been waitin' at the beautiful gates
And one day I'm gonna meet them
Oh, I'm gonna sing forever more
Way over in Buelah
I see the Captain beckoned to me
Well, he's callin' all God's children
Oh, to meet him on the Promised Land
God knows I'm gonna
Walk in Jerusalem
Talk in Jerusalem
Sing in Jerusalem
Be in Jerusalem
High up, oh, in Jerusalem
When I die, oh yeah
In Jerusalem
Sing in Jerusalem
Shout in Jerusalem
Sing in Jerusalem
High up, oh, in Jerusalem
When I die
Way up, way up
Way up, way up
Way up
High up in Jerusalem
When I die
Way up, way up
Way up, way up
High up in Jerusalem
When I die
God knows I'm gonna
Walk in Jerusalem
Talk in Jerusalem
Sing in Jerusalem
Be in Jerusalem
High up in Jerusalem when I die
Oh, be in Jerusalem
Sing in Jerusalem
Shout in Jerusalem
Pray in Jerusalem
High up in Jerusalem when I die
Hmm, when I get down to the river
I'm gonna stick my sword in the sand
For I spy the old ship of Zion
She took a-many to the Promised Land
Way over in Buelah
Where there ain't no dying there
Where the saints shoutin' victory
Oh, they singin', Lord, everywhere
Way over in Buelah
I hear the voice of friends I've known
They been gone on, gone on to Glory
Well, well, a long time ago
They been waitin'
They been watchin'
They been waitin' at the beautiful gates
And one day I'm gonna meet them
Oh, I'm gonna sing forever more
Way over in Buelah
I see the Captain beckoned to me
Well, he's callin' all God's children
Oh, to meet him on the Promised Land
God knows I'm gonna
Walk in Jerusalem
Talk in Jerusalem
Sing in Jerusalem
Be in Jerusalem
High up, oh, in Jerusalem
When I die, oh yeah
In Jerusalem
Sing in Jerusalem
Shout in Jerusalem
Sing in Jerusalem
High up, oh, in Jerusalem
When I die
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Walk in Jerusalem Lyrics as written by Mahalia Jackson
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
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