"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.
From the depths of my down home time
I draw a line from your rising sign
to the place where the sun touches mine
but I don't know what that means
from the places where youre angels dwell
I hear the music of the wishing well
I hear the song of the big black bell
I hear exactly what it means
It's too early in the day to say
what the shape is anyways
but it's too late to hit the brakes
And even though I am scared
to have my heart swallowed by a whale
I'm going down to the depths of the ocean floor
I put the ink in the brush I make a line
I have a feeling it's good this time
violet concord on the vine
I'm naive but I'm in love
like the water in the pot on fire
there is such a heart break in desire
I'm a kid in a radio flyer
and I don't know if I'll survive
and it's too early in the day to say
what the night's bringing anyway
and it's too late to go back to sleep
and even though I am afraid
to have my heart swallowed by a snake
I'm going up to the center of the desert sand
I draw a line from your rising sign
to the place where the sun touches mine
but I don't know what that means
from the places where youre angels dwell
I hear the music of the wishing well
I hear the song of the big black bell
I hear exactly what it means
It's too early in the day to say
what the shape is anyways
but it's too late to hit the brakes
And even though I am scared
to have my heart swallowed by a whale
I'm going down to the depths of the ocean floor
I put the ink in the brush I make a line
I have a feeling it's good this time
violet concord on the vine
I'm naive but I'm in love
like the water in the pot on fire
there is such a heart break in desire
I'm a kid in a radio flyer
and I don't know if I'll survive
and it's too early in the day to say
what the night's bringing anyway
and it's too late to go back to sleep
and even though I am afraid
to have my heart swallowed by a snake
I'm going up to the center of the desert sand
Lyrics submitted by buddytherat08
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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