"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 remember holdin' on to you
All them long and lonely nights I put you through
Somewhere in there I'm sure I made you cry
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I recall all of them nights down in Mexico
One place I may never go in my life again
Was I just off somewhere or just too high
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
I only miss you every now and then
Like the soft breeze blowin up from the Carribean
Most Novembers I break down and cry
Cause I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I recall all of them nights down in Mexico
One place I will never go in my life again
Was I just off somewhere or just too high
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
No I can't remember if we said goodbye
Goodbye goodbye
All them long and lonely nights I put you through
Somewhere in there I'm sure I made you cry
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I recall all of them nights down in Mexico
One place I may never go in my life again
Was I just off somewhere or just too high
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
I only miss you every now and then
Like the soft breeze blowin up from the Carribean
Most Novembers I break down and cry
Cause I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I recall all of them nights down in Mexico
One place I will never go in my life again
Was I just off somewhere or just too high
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
No I can't remember if we said goodbye
Goodbye goodbye
Lyrics submitted by Bobo192
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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Maybe it's too obvious to mention, but simply the regrets of the past and the memories of a distant, pleasant, but failed relationship.
The song was written by Steve Earle and I read that he wrote this song about being in prison and missing the drug taking and it actually wasn't about a woman, but I cannot hear it any other way than a love song.
one of the saddest songs i've ever heard about thinking back on an old love. this ain't about drugs, man, it's about the heart. although he does mention being "too high." emmylou harris's version of this (with earle on guitar and the countoff) will make you cry.
I heard Emmy play this song in Dublin a few years ago. She introduced the song, saying that "its the saddest song I ever recorded". No kidding, Emmy. Written by the adopted son of Ireland, Mr. Steve Earle, it truly is a tear jerker and Emmy puts her heart & sole into the recording that is still makes me cry. Simply superb story telling delivered by Emmy the only way she know. Heart breaking to say the least.
Slash McCracken
greetins from tropico singapore superb interpretation from everyone in the band to achingly beautiful enuff said!!
I grew up on this kind of music as a kid, and I just found this song again after a big heartbreak. It is so goddamn sad. She really has an amazingly emotional voice. This song makes me cry everytime I hear it, even over a year later. I can't remember if we said goodbye...