"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.
All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray
I went for a walk on a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A.
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
Stopped in to a church, I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I began to pray (I began to pray)
You know the preacher likes the cold (preacher likes the cold)
He knows that I'm gonna stay (knows I'm gonna stay)
Oh now, California dreamin' (California dreamin) on such a winter's day,
Oh yeah
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I went for a walk (I went for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
If I didn't tell her, I could leave today
Oh now, California dreamin' (I thought you went away)
Oh now, California dreamin' (on such a winter's)
Oh now, California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
(Dreamin') oh now, California dreamin'
(Such a winter's day) oh now, California dreamin'
(Cali-for-ni-a, thought the sky was grey)
California dreamin'
(Such a winter's day)
Oh, California dreamin'
(California dreamin', dreamin')
And the sky is gray
And the skies are gray
I went for a walk on a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A.
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
Stopped in to a church, I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I began to pray (I began to pray)
You know the preacher likes the cold (preacher likes the cold)
He knows that I'm gonna stay (knows I'm gonna stay)
Oh now, California dreamin' (California dreamin) on such a winter's day,
Oh yeah
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I went for a walk (I went for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
If I didn't tell her, I could leave today
Oh now, California dreamin' (I thought you went away)
Oh now, California dreamin' (on such a winter's)
Oh now, California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
(Dreamin') oh now, California dreamin'
(Such a winter's day) oh now, California dreamin'
(Cali-for-ni-a, thought the sky was grey)
California dreamin'
(Such a winter's day)
Oh, California dreamin'
(California dreamin', dreamin')
And the sky is gray
And the skies are gray
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
California Dreamin' Lyrics as written by Michelle Gilliam Phillips John Edmund Andrew Phillips
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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