"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.
i've got one cigarette, and i'll bet, that it's broken in 3 places
my hands are cold, and i know, all these empty faces
the conversations hot, but i know, my 2 cents, won't change a thing tonight.
this beer is warm, but even so, i know that things will be alright
i've got my friends, and my guitar, we'll skate till the sun comes around again
i know that i've felt worse before,
and i know that you're my friends,
you guys make the least worth more,
and i know that you'll be there, in the end
i've got no cigarettes, and i'm feeling old, the morning sun in our faces
my legs are sore, my skateboard's soaked, and i don't know where the fuck this place is.
i guess i'll walk home, get cleaned up, i'll call dave, we can go out again.
another night in this town, don't want to drink again, and you say: "fuck it, let's get plastered".
and now that i'm drunk, and my pants are down, i don't want to live and die in this town.
i'll see you later, meet me at the chevron
we'll get slurpees, and figure out what's going on.
i've got one cigarette, and i'll bet, that it's broken in 3 places
the weather's cold, and i know, all these empty faces
the conversations hot, but i know, my 2 cents, won't change a thing tonight.
this beer is warm, but even so, i know that things will be alright.
this bitterness of a small town, i know things will be alright.
my hands are cold, and i know, all these empty faces
the conversations hot, but i know, my 2 cents, won't change a thing tonight.
this beer is warm, but even so, i know that things will be alright
i've got my friends, and my guitar, we'll skate till the sun comes around again
i know that i've felt worse before,
and i know that you're my friends,
you guys make the least worth more,
and i know that you'll be there, in the end
i've got no cigarettes, and i'm feeling old, the morning sun in our faces
my legs are sore, my skateboard's soaked, and i don't know where the fuck this place is.
i guess i'll walk home, get cleaned up, i'll call dave, we can go out again.
another night in this town, don't want to drink again, and you say: "fuck it, let's get plastered".
and now that i'm drunk, and my pants are down, i don't want to live and die in this town.
i'll see you later, meet me at the chevron
we'll get slurpees, and figure out what's going on.
i've got one cigarette, and i'll bet, that it's broken in 3 places
the weather's cold, and i know, all these empty faces
the conversations hot, but i know, my 2 cents, won't change a thing tonight.
this beer is warm, but even so, i know that things will be alright.
this bitterness of a small town, i know things will be alright.
Lyrics submitted by dextercrack
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Fast Car
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
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i wrote it, it's written about how a small town can leave you feeling trapped. it's from a bunch of peoples perspectives all wrapped into one. certain lyrics apply to my friends more than to me, and some of the lyrics were written by jeremy.