"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.
Frankie, dear, your birthday gift reveals to me
That at heart you're really not so bad.
If I add, why our funny face appeals to me.
Please don't think I've suddenly gone mad.
You have all the qualities of Peter Pan,
I'd go far before I'd find a sweeter pan
And yet
I love your funny face,
Your sunny, funny face,
For you're a cutie
With more than beauty
You've got a lot
Of personality N.T.
A thousand laughs I've found
In having you around.
Through you're not Gloria Swanson,
For worlds I'd not replace
Your sunny, funny face.
Needn't tell me that I'm not so pretty, dear,
When my looking glass and I agree,
In the contest at Atlantic City, dear,
Miss America I'd never be,
Truth to tell, though, you're not such a bad lot yourself,
As a Paul Swan, you are not so hot yourself.
And yet.
I love your funny face,
Your sunny, funny face,
You can't repair it,
So I declare it
Is quite all right
Like Ronald Colman?
So's your ol' man!
Yet it's very clear,
I'm glad when you are near.
Though you're no Handsome Harry
For worlds I'd not replace
Your sunny funny face.
I love that funny face,
That sunny, funny face
Thought it upsets one,
In time, it gets one,
That's true, for you
Have personality for two.
Those eyes! Those nose! Those cheek!
Won't make a movie sheik,
But though you're not patootie,
For worlds I'd not replace
Your sunny, funny face.
I love your funny face,
Your sunny, funny face,
You never bother
About your father.
Have you no shame?
You're just a mutt and nothing but!
Yet when you wag your tail,
You'll never be for sale.
Though you're no Rin Tin Tin, dear,
For worlds I'd not replace
Your sunny, funny face.
That at heart you're really not so bad.
If I add, why our funny face appeals to me.
Please don't think I've suddenly gone mad.
You have all the qualities of Peter Pan,
I'd go far before I'd find a sweeter pan
And yet
I love your funny face,
Your sunny, funny face,
For you're a cutie
With more than beauty
You've got a lot
Of personality N.T.
A thousand laughs I've found
In having you around.
Through you're not Gloria Swanson,
For worlds I'd not replace
Your sunny, funny face.
Needn't tell me that I'm not so pretty, dear,
When my looking glass and I agree,
In the contest at Atlantic City, dear,
Miss America I'd never be,
Truth to tell, though, you're not such a bad lot yourself,
As a Paul Swan, you are not so hot yourself.
And yet.
I love your funny face,
Your sunny, funny face,
You can't repair it,
So I declare it
Is quite all right
Like Ronald Colman?
So's your ol' man!
Yet it's very clear,
I'm glad when you are near.
Though you're no Handsome Harry
For worlds I'd not replace
Your sunny funny face.
I love that funny face,
That sunny, funny face
Thought it upsets one,
In time, it gets one,
That's true, for you
Have personality for two.
Those eyes! Those nose! Those cheek!
Won't make a movie sheik,
But though you're not patootie,
For worlds I'd not replace
Your sunny, funny face.
I love your funny face,
Your sunny, funny face,
You never bother
About your father.
Have you no shame?
You're just a mutt and nothing but!
Yet when you wag your tail,
You'll never be for sale.
Though you're no Rin Tin Tin, dear,
For worlds I'd not replace
Your sunny, funny face.
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
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Just A Little Lovin'
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Page
Ed Sheeran
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