"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.
The Constitution crumbles beneath the weight of fascists No right to assemble - no free speech for the masses Seattle '99 the mayor's decree Anti-W.T.O. statements are grounds for arresting! Chorus:
Our leaders decry Tianamen And dare to speak of freedom As they unleash our cops on us! So... what's... the fuckin' difference?Bridge:
Behind locked doors in session World sponsored corporate politicians Structure policy to build more corporate strength FIGHT STRENGTH - WITH STRENGTH At news conferences they claim, "We listen!" While they lock out their own constituents So we march on to raise our voice Because we are left with no choice!!! Verse:
In China, Nike pays workers fifty cents a day In the U.S. lawmakers give China "free trade" Human rights-based sanctions just washed away When our lawmakers are owned by multinational's money Chorus (repeat)
Our leaders decry Tianamen And dare to speak of freedom As they unleash our cops on us! So... what's... the fuckin' difference?Bridge:
Behind locked doors in session World sponsored corporate politicians Structure policy to build more corporate strength FIGHT STRENGTH - WITH STRENGTH At news conferences they claim, "We listen!" While they lock out their own constituents So we march on to raise our voice Because we are left with no choice!!! Verse:
In China, Nike pays workers fifty cents a day In the U.S. lawmakers give China "free trade" Human rights-based sanctions just washed away When our lawmakers are owned by multinational's money Chorus (repeat)
Lyrics submitted by anti-flagmaggot
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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free trade man shut it down the worst thing well not the worst casue the soz is a bit worse but whats this difference really its still america being morons