"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.
Draw the shades and close my eyes
(I never want to see again)
I found the cost of courage high
(Sometimes hard to pay)
I hear the song the Sirens sing
(Calling on the shore for me)
So sell your soul and try to fly
(The tether still remains)
And all the finer things they laid upon my table
Smiled as their hooks were slowly sinking in
Another pill I'm to consume
(To make me learn to feel again)
Is followed by another one
(To make me loose the same)
God, if I could recognize
(The things to make me whole again)
And draw this air into my lungs
(Remember how to breathe)
For as the curtain rose I danced as I was able
Felt my deception slowly sinking in
And so I turn to you, my love
(For the solace that is there)
And offer any cherished thing
(For a slight reprieve)
I hoped that you might find me here
(And I could learn to smile again)
And as a balm for these wounds
(Take away the sting)
And as the band did play your body I did cradle
I should have known that song would have to end
(I never want to see again)
I found the cost of courage high
(Sometimes hard to pay)
I hear the song the Sirens sing
(Calling on the shore for me)
So sell your soul and try to fly
(The tether still remains)
And all the finer things they laid upon my table
Smiled as their hooks were slowly sinking in
Another pill I'm to consume
(To make me learn to feel again)
Is followed by another one
(To make me loose the same)
God, if I could recognize
(The things to make me whole again)
And draw this air into my lungs
(Remember how to breathe)
For as the curtain rose I danced as I was able
Felt my deception slowly sinking in
And so I turn to you, my love
(For the solace that is there)
And offer any cherished thing
(For a slight reprieve)
I hoped that you might find me here
(And I could learn to smile again)
And as a balm for these wounds
(Take away the sting)
And as the band did play your body I did cradle
I should have known that song would have to end
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Fast Car
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Page
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Holy fuck these are wrong
Lol, those are pretty bad...these are better:
Draw the shades to close my eyes (I never want to see again) I found the cost of courage high (Sometimes hard to pay) I hear the song the sirens sing (Calling on the shore for me) So sell your soul and try to fly (The tether still remains)
And all the finer things they laid upon my table Smiled as their hooks were slowly sinking in
Another pill I'm to consume (To make me learn to feel again) Is followed by another one (To make me lose the same) God if I could recognize (The things to make me whole again) And draw this air into my lungs (Remember how to breathe)
For as the curtain rose I danced as I was able Felt my deception slowly sinking in
So I turn to you my love (For the solace that is there) And offer any cherished thing (For a slight reprieve) I hoped that you might find me here (And I could learn to smile again) And as a balm for these wounds (Take away the sting)
And as the band did play your body I did cradle I should have known that song would have to end
This song is about him trying to find a refuge in his life from all the external forces.