"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.
Oooooo la di dumb (dum)
Da da dumb (dum)da da dumb dumb dumb
La di dumb da da dumb da da dumb dumb
Six a.m. getting out of bed again
Can't get back in 'cause sleep ain't gonna pay the rent
Ohh day to day they got you working like a slave
Taking credit for the work you gave
And stealing your raise but I...
Chorus
I know you're down but when you gon get up
I see you're down but when you gon get up
(Repeat)
People try to pull the wool over your eyes
Don't know why they want to profit from your demise
Oooo they lie to cover up how weak they are inside
Oh baby baby don't you cry
All you got's your pride so I I I I
Chorus
I see you're down
(Mos Def)
Hey now I'm going for mine
Said even though they trying to hold me down
You know I'm a shine
Put your hurdles up but still I'm hopping over the nine
I stay ahead of the race because I'm setting the pace
Hop on my feet I caught a ? like I'm a federal case
Cause there's incredible stakes
Brooklyn incredible place for all the seminal waste
Who make their memorable case
Who got the measure and grace
Amongst the pressure and snakes
Sometimes I'm still to stay(?) competitive
Do whatever it takes
To all my folk who understand that NYC is the way
For overseas or anywhere inside the 50 you stay
So if you really know the really really really real-ly
Wave your hands in the space
It's time to build and create
Me and my squad is on the job
So that the children's is straight
To understand the higher plan
And to expand my estates
I can't give hardly give up my motivation a must
Amel Larrieux and M-O-S'll make the people GET UP!
(Amel)
I want you to get get up
I want you to get get up
I want you to get get up
Not down not with a frown
(Amel scatting)
(Amel)
After all the work you gave
Stealing your raise
Stealing your raise
Steal-ing your raise
Da da dumb (dum)da da dumb dumb dumb
La di dumb da da dumb da da dumb dumb
Six a.m. getting out of bed again
Can't get back in 'cause sleep ain't gonna pay the rent
Ohh day to day they got you working like a slave
Taking credit for the work you gave
And stealing your raise but I...
Chorus
I know you're down but when you gon get up
I see you're down but when you gon get up
(Repeat)
People try to pull the wool over your eyes
Don't know why they want to profit from your demise
Oooo they lie to cover up how weak they are inside
Oh baby baby don't you cry
All you got's your pride so I I I I
Chorus
I see you're down
(Mos Def)
Hey now I'm going for mine
Said even though they trying to hold me down
You know I'm a shine
Put your hurdles up but still I'm hopping over the nine
I stay ahead of the race because I'm setting the pace
Hop on my feet I caught a ? like I'm a federal case
Cause there's incredible stakes
Brooklyn incredible place for all the seminal waste
Who make their memorable case
Who got the measure and grace
Amongst the pressure and snakes
Sometimes I'm still to stay(?) competitive
Do whatever it takes
To all my folk who understand that NYC is the way
For overseas or anywhere inside the 50 you stay
So if you really know the really really really real-ly
Wave your hands in the space
It's time to build and create
Me and my squad is on the job
So that the children's is straight
To understand the higher plan
And to expand my estates
I can't give hardly give up my motivation a must
Amel Larrieux and M-O-S'll make the people GET UP!
(Amel)
I want you to get get up
I want you to get get up
I want you to get get up
Not down not with a frown
(Amel scatting)
(Amel)
After all the work you gave
Stealing your raise
Stealing your raise
Steal-ing your raise
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Great version of a great song,
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She rocks and sizzles. What a goddess. I adore her artistry and wish she was more mainstream so peeps can get an ear of what really fabulous and creative vocals she does. All those other hack stupid female singing types couldn't even hold her bags let alone stand next to her.
What an amazing soul inside this woman.