"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.
Do you wanna go big? do you wanna go back?
do you wanna get way ahead of yourself
with your integrity in tact?
do you wanna go on? do you wanna go out?
kicking and screaming while they drag you
will you let them bind and gag you?
do you wanna go big or not?
give it one more great big shot
do you wanna just give in,
or give it everything we've got?
do you wanna go big? do you wanna go home
where it is safe and it is sound
and where the safe and sound are found
do you wanna go there? that’s nowhere
or do you wanna just go at it?
are you telling me you've had it?
put on your big boy pants
tighten your grip and adjust your stance
you may have messed around
and missed your chance
you've got a safety chord
you've got the luxuries most can't afford
you may be grateful or faithful
or jump when you're bored
maybe I am losing my mind
maybe I'm not, and maybe I’m fine
maybe I do, or don't give a damn
maybe I'm not, but maybe I am
do you wanna go big, or not?
this might be our final shot
do you wanna just give in,
or give it everything we've got?
do you wanna go big? do you wanna go home?
where it is safe and it is sound
but I won't be around
maybe I am losing my mind
maybe I'm not, and maybe I'm fine
maybe I do, or don't give a damn
maybe I'm not, but maybe I am
and maybe I'm scared when baby's not here
maybe it's not a legitimate fear
maybe it doesn’t need to be shared
maybe it does, and baby I'm scared
maybe I am losing my touch
and maybe I miss my baby too much
maybe I can't hear her, baby when I'm near her
maybe I can't, but maybe I can
and maybe my past has made me this way
maybe it'll last, or maybe it'll go away
maybe I'm losing my mind
maybe I'm not, and maybe I'm fine
do you wanna get way ahead of yourself
with your integrity in tact?
do you wanna go on? do you wanna go out?
kicking and screaming while they drag you
will you let them bind and gag you?
do you wanna go big or not?
give it one more great big shot
do you wanna just give in,
or give it everything we've got?
do you wanna go big? do you wanna go home
where it is safe and it is sound
and where the safe and sound are found
do you wanna go there? that’s nowhere
or do you wanna just go at it?
are you telling me you've had it?
put on your big boy pants
tighten your grip and adjust your stance
you may have messed around
and missed your chance
you've got a safety chord
you've got the luxuries most can't afford
you may be grateful or faithful
or jump when you're bored
maybe I am losing my mind
maybe I'm not, and maybe I’m fine
maybe I do, or don't give a damn
maybe I'm not, but maybe I am
do you wanna go big, or not?
this might be our final shot
do you wanna just give in,
or give it everything we've got?
do you wanna go big? do you wanna go home?
where it is safe and it is sound
but I won't be around
maybe I am losing my mind
maybe I'm not, and maybe I'm fine
maybe I do, or don't give a damn
maybe I'm not, but maybe I am
and maybe I'm scared when baby's not here
maybe it's not a legitimate fear
maybe it doesn’t need to be shared
maybe it does, and baby I'm scared
maybe I am losing my touch
and maybe I miss my baby too much
maybe I can't hear her, baby when I'm near her
maybe I can't, but maybe I can
and maybe my past has made me this way
maybe it'll last, or maybe it'll go away
maybe I'm losing my mind
maybe I'm not, and maybe I'm fine
Lyrics submitted by skycamefalling00
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Little Feat
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Just A Little Lovin'
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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Magical
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