"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.
Bare breasted, you make love in the turret
I feel each single thrust that you take
And in silence I watch on from the bastion
Entranced, I make myself look away
And bare breasted making love in the turret
I've never loved nobody other than you
And in silence, I can feel that you quiver
Keep quiet or you know what he will do
And I know I am not the man you desire
I know you think that I am some kind of fool
And I know you would gaze in his eyes forever
I've figured out just how to give that to you
When he found us in the western wing sleeping
You cried at all the things you thought he would do
And I tell you in the heat of the scuffle
Nobody ever takes my eyes off of you
And you know Katherine how you run me my fever
Oh Katherine, tell me was it worth it for him?
These gallows are no place for the stubborn
Just you and your lover as a dark souvenir
She sees me on display inside the museum
Comes every morning and again when she can
Strokes her blistered hand across my glass container
Says its so good to see you back here again
I feel each single thrust that you take
And in silence I watch on from the bastion
Entranced, I make myself look away
And bare breasted making love in the turret
I've never loved nobody other than you
And in silence, I can feel that you quiver
Keep quiet or you know what he will do
And I know I am not the man you desire
I know you think that I am some kind of fool
And I know you would gaze in his eyes forever
I've figured out just how to give that to you
When he found us in the western wing sleeping
You cried at all the things you thought he would do
And I tell you in the heat of the scuffle
Nobody ever takes my eyes off of you
And you know Katherine how you run me my fever
Oh Katherine, tell me was it worth it for him?
These gallows are no place for the stubborn
Just you and your lover as a dark souvenir
She sees me on display inside the museum
Comes every morning and again when she can
Strokes her blistered hand across my glass container
Says its so good to see you back here again
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Fast Car
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Ebba Grön
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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