"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.
Well I walk with my baby, she's got big feet
Long, lean and lank she's had nothin' to eat
But she's my baby, I love her just the same
I'm just crazy 'bout that woman
Caledonia is her name
Well if you see my baby, tell her to get on home
Ain't had no good lovin' since she's been gone
She's my baby and I love her just the same
I'm just crazy 'bout that woman
Caledonia is her name
CHORUS
Caledonia! Caledonia! What makes your big head so hard
I love ya, I love ya just the same
I'm just crazy bout that woman
Caledonia is her name
Do you know what Matt? No what
My momma she told me to leave that little girl alone. Imagine!
But you know what? No what! I love that woman.
It 's a straight natural fact. Is that right!
I'm going to go down to her house as soon as this session is over
And I'm going to knock on her door one more time
REPEAT CHORUS
Well I love you baby and I'll tell you the reason why
Why I love you baby and I'll tell you the reason why
If you don't start lovin' me, I'm going to break down and cry
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker till the break of day
I said come on baby, come on back to school
I said come on baby, come on back to school
Well come on back and I'll teach you the golden rule
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker till the break of day
Long, lean and lank she's had nothin' to eat
But she's my baby, I love her just the same
I'm just crazy 'bout that woman
Caledonia is her name
Well if you see my baby, tell her to get on home
Ain't had no good lovin' since she's been gone
She's my baby and I love her just the same
I'm just crazy 'bout that woman
Caledonia is her name
CHORUS
Caledonia! Caledonia! What makes your big head so hard
I love ya, I love ya just the same
I'm just crazy bout that woman
Caledonia is her name
Do you know what Matt? No what
My momma she told me to leave that little girl alone. Imagine!
But you know what? No what! I love that woman.
It 's a straight natural fact. Is that right!
I'm going to go down to her house as soon as this session is over
And I'm going to knock on her door one more time
REPEAT CHORUS
Well I love you baby and I'll tell you the reason why
Why I love you baby and I'll tell you the reason why
If you don't start lovin' me, I'm going to break down and cry
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker till the break of day
I said come on baby, come on back to school
I said come on baby, come on back to school
Well come on back and I'll teach you the golden rule
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker
You've got to shake your moneymaker till the break of day
Lyrics submitted by ruben
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