"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.
I promise that I won't fall down.
I promise that I won't skin my knee.
Like you promised you'd always be around.
To take good care of me.
And I remember.
You standing behind that white picket fence with a white peaked face.
Trying hard to embrace my youth.
Before it escapes.
Before it's too late.
Clutching the fence she said.
How have I hurt you.
What have I done.
Did I desert you.
Or spite with my tongue.
Was I too eager.
Or love you too much.
I love you too much.
And now that I'm all grown.
I'm feeling so alone.
Why have you brought me here.
You say all these things I say.
But it's not the same.
I'm feeling so alone today. alone and numb.
I'll ice my thoughts.
I'll ice my mind for now.
It's not your fault.
You did what you could do.
For this I will love you for always.
You hold my heart and my tiny hand.
Thank you for all these things
I promise that I won't skin my knee.
Like you promised you'd always be around.
To take good care of me.
And I remember.
You standing behind that white picket fence with a white peaked face.
Trying hard to embrace my youth.
Before it escapes.
Before it's too late.
Clutching the fence she said.
How have I hurt you.
What have I done.
Did I desert you.
Or spite with my tongue.
Was I too eager.
Or love you too much.
I love you too much.
And now that I'm all grown.
I'm feeling so alone.
Why have you brought me here.
You say all these things I say.
But it's not the same.
I'm feeling so alone today. alone and numb.
I'll ice my thoughts.
I'll ice my mind for now.
It's not your fault.
You did what you could do.
For this I will love you for always.
You hold my heart and my tiny hand.
Thank you for all these things
Lyrics submitted by beautifulmess
All These Things Lyrics as written by Allen Toussaint
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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