"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.
We're always, too always in doubt
Works on me
She's nowhere she mainlines helps me out
Now I can speak
Was heard not seen wasted nothings free
Was black was bruised fucked up twenty two
I'm amazed you eat you sleep you function at all
Cause my aims so weak I'd fail to get into my arm
Was made the first to laugh
Tried but the tribute short changed kindness
Flowers and silence
Was made the first to laugh
Charmed but the weather broke me sober
I've never been colder
Seen braver seemed braver since then
But never been
No favors no saviors no sense
It's not in me
So nothings free ghost drunk out of reach
So action this cared less never missed
And you preach you teach did I learn you nothing at all
I'm too dumb to see but you stooped for someone this small
You'll always be closing me down denied me remind me I'm sold out
Just skin and teeth
Left black and bruised fucked up nothing new
Was heard not seen wasted so nothings free
Works on me
She's nowhere she mainlines helps me out
Now I can speak
Was heard not seen wasted nothings free
Was black was bruised fucked up twenty two
I'm amazed you eat you sleep you function at all
Cause my aims so weak I'd fail to get into my arm
Was made the first to laugh
Tried but the tribute short changed kindness
Flowers and silence
Was made the first to laugh
Charmed but the weather broke me sober
I've never been colder
Seen braver seemed braver since then
But never been
No favors no saviors no sense
It's not in me
So nothings free ghost drunk out of reach
So action this cared less never missed
And you preach you teach did I learn you nothing at all
I'm too dumb to see but you stooped for someone this small
You'll always be closing me down denied me remind me I'm sold out
Just skin and teeth
Left black and bruised fucked up nothing new
Was heard not seen wasted so nothings free
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Yo La Tengo
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Great version of a great song,
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I think that this song is about a funeral... 'flowers and silence'...