"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.
Freedom and blood
I make my mark and fight for tomorrow
Finally I've got something
Something I can raise my voice for
Fine tell them who you really want
Fine well you'll get yours and I'll get mine
Proud I'm proud to be proud to see
They said proud
I'm proud to be proud to be me
They said tell me oh you've got to tell me
Freedom's rough
So we take our stand and fight for tomorrow
Finally we got something something we can
Bring down the house with
Fine tell them who you think you are
Fine tell them fine is what you are
And when you finally figure out what it is you need
You better think of me
No, no, no, no
When I get up
I feel the rhythm in my fingers
I get up, I hear the rhythm in my laughter
Take a second look
You might find that I am stronger
Take a second look
You might find that you are stronger
Imagination inspiration
It's only fair that I tell you
I plan on leaving here tonight with my pride
It gets me every time with my pride
I'm proud to be I'm proud to be me
I make my mark and fight for tomorrow
Finally I've got something
Something I can raise my voice for
Fine tell them who you really want
Fine well you'll get yours and I'll get mine
Proud I'm proud to be proud to see
They said proud
I'm proud to be proud to be me
They said tell me oh you've got to tell me
Freedom's rough
So we take our stand and fight for tomorrow
Finally we got something something we can
Bring down the house with
Fine tell them who you think you are
Fine tell them fine is what you are
And when you finally figure out what it is you need
You better think of me
No, no, no, no
When I get up
I feel the rhythm in my fingers
I get up, I hear the rhythm in my laughter
Take a second look
You might find that I am stronger
Take a second look
You might find that you are stronger
Imagination inspiration
It's only fair that I tell you
I plan on leaving here tonight with my pride
It gets me every time with my pride
I'm proud to be I'm proud to be me
Lyrics submitted by LizardGirl
Proud Lyrics as written by Tegan Rain Quin Sara Keirsten Quin
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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Yea, that's one of the best lines ever. I also like, "I plan on leaving here tonight with my pride".