"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.
Don't touch the drums boy that's the theme of the evening
and if I catch you near them you'll get a real good beating
the man said to his face, said it wasn't his place
but he didn't listen, grabbed the sticks and began ripping
he started with the right and then with the left
and back again and again till it hurt his chest
and he drums out, it's all he has to bring
he has no gifts for a king, no gold or rings
and he plays for justice, freedom and for life
in his hands he continues all throughout the night
and he's just a boy, he's a boy with no tomorrow
head filled with truths and lies and he borrows
he borrows the rhythm the 1 and the 2, and it speaks to you, it speaks to you
come and play they told him then, we need what you have to give
I have nothing for a king he said, nothing but this rifft
and he played his drum for him, he played his best for him
he gave his gifts to him, he gave his best to him. oh no
And we wait for gold, for perfect hearts and homes
we wait until we can afford to come to clean to the throne
and that boy had it right, he knew what he had to give
it wasn't big or expensive it was his best that he lived
and somehow he knew it, I don't know how but he did
he figured it all out in his heart in his head
and I'll tell the stories, it's all I know how to do
while dust plays out the drums out for me and you
please give your best don't think your gifts are small
that's what he wants from us more than all
but we have to be brave and push right up to the front
even if people tell us that's what no one wants
and in your heart you know what you have to give
this Christmas put others first in how you live
and give Christ the glory in this very special way
after all it's his birthday have a happy holy day
and if I catch you near them you'll get a real good beating
the man said to his face, said it wasn't his place
but he didn't listen, grabbed the sticks and began ripping
he started with the right and then with the left
and back again and again till it hurt his chest
and he drums out, it's all he has to bring
he has no gifts for a king, no gold or rings
and he plays for justice, freedom and for life
in his hands he continues all throughout the night
and he's just a boy, he's a boy with no tomorrow
head filled with truths and lies and he borrows
he borrows the rhythm the 1 and the 2, and it speaks to you, it speaks to you
come and play they told him then, we need what you have to give
I have nothing for a king he said, nothing but this rifft
and he played his drum for him, he played his best for him
he gave his gifts to him, he gave his best to him. oh no
And we wait for gold, for perfect hearts and homes
we wait until we can afford to come to clean to the throne
and that boy had it right, he knew what he had to give
it wasn't big or expensive it was his best that he lived
and somehow he knew it, I don't know how but he did
he figured it all out in his heart in his head
and I'll tell the stories, it's all I know how to do
while dust plays out the drums out for me and you
please give your best don't think your gifts are small
that's what he wants from us more than all
but we have to be brave and push right up to the front
even if people tell us that's what no one wants
and in your heart you know what you have to give
this Christmas put others first in how you live
and give Christ the glory in this very special way
after all it's his birthday have a happy holy day
Lyrics submitted by TeamAlphaDoG
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Fast Car
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