"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.
What do you mean that it's time, time for me to grow up?
I don't want any part
It's right to follow my heart
The new kids ran, ran out the back door fast
And the bands that came before
They had their noses in the air
Pretending that they care about our scene
Just because our money's green
I'll tell you stage dives make me feel more alive
Than coded messages in slowed down songs
Now you're so ashamed, now I'm so ashamed of you
We believed the same things
You stand to the side, rebirth of hardcore pride
It all came true
Too bad you can't see all the good things that I see
Back in, back in the days
When I'd wait to see the old bands play
It didn't seem like wasted days
I was so sincere, but now I see more clearly
Music's only work to them
It's not to me
So I say hats off to bands that change
Good luck, go your own way
Why play for us if your heart's not in it?
Cause what might, what might seem dumb to you
Is pounding in my heart
Now you're so ashamed, now I'm so ashamed of you
We believe the same things
You stand to the side, rebirth of hardcore pride
It all came true, too bad you can't see, no, you just can't fucking see it
Now you just turn your back
You said I don't want it anymore
Old friends you attack
Our pain out of touch
You don't get it do you
New stage, new ideas
You don't have to make excuses for us
Sitting there looking back, I'm scared
Don't spoil memories of the way things were
I don't want any part
It's right to follow my heart
The new kids ran, ran out the back door fast
And the bands that came before
They had their noses in the air
Pretending that they care about our scene
Just because our money's green
I'll tell you stage dives make me feel more alive
Than coded messages in slowed down songs
Now you're so ashamed, now I'm so ashamed of you
We believed the same things
You stand to the side, rebirth of hardcore pride
It all came true
Too bad you can't see all the good things that I see
Back in, back in the days
When I'd wait to see the old bands play
It didn't seem like wasted days
I was so sincere, but now I see more clearly
Music's only work to them
It's not to me
So I say hats off to bands that change
Good luck, go your own way
Why play for us if your heart's not in it?
Cause what might, what might seem dumb to you
Is pounding in my heart
Now you're so ashamed, now I'm so ashamed of you
We believe the same things
You stand to the side, rebirth of hardcore pride
It all came true, too bad you can't see, no, you just can't fucking see it
Now you just turn your back
You said I don't want it anymore
Old friends you attack
Our pain out of touch
You don't get it do you
New stage, new ideas
You don't have to make excuses for us
Sitting there looking back, I'm scared
Don't spoil memories of the way things were
Lyrics submitted by xJoeBoothx
New Direction Lyrics as written by Norman Cook Ashley William Slater
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think the band they are talking about in this song was Chain of Strength.