"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.
The fog is rolling in, the tide is high
Diane's as fat can be, aye Captain aye
The guests' seem more than pleased
How is the wine?
We shall be underway on the bye and bye
Ahead one third, ahead two thirds!
Full ahead, flank
And out from the belly of a whale came a prophet
Amen!
Go shoot the moon, the sun, the great divide
I believe there's a storm a brewin'
Nine crows at nine o clock nye
Dutch men on the mizzen mast
Six harpies are singing to the lee
I believe she's going down
I believe we're gonna die, die, die
Fortune tellers make a killing nowadays
Me oh my!
Howdy Doody's past the house of Aquarious
Bring me more whisky and rye
Big news from the party boat
Oh sir, do not distress, the food is fine
Oh, but I must confess
I do find the wine a wee bit dry
Fifteen men on a dead man's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rye
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
She's sunk full fathom, five, five, five
Fortune tellers make a killing nowadays
Me oh my!
Howdy Doody's past the house of Aquarious
Bring me more whisky and rye
Big news from the party boat
Them bones, them bones, them dry, dry bones
Come down to the locker of Davy Jones
Diane's as fat can be, aye Captain aye
The guests' seem more than pleased
How is the wine?
We shall be underway on the bye and bye
Ahead one third, ahead two thirds!
Full ahead, flank
And out from the belly of a whale came a prophet
Amen!
Go shoot the moon, the sun, the great divide
I believe there's a storm a brewin'
Nine crows at nine o clock nye
Dutch men on the mizzen mast
Six harpies are singing to the lee
I believe she's going down
I believe we're gonna die, die, die
Fortune tellers make a killing nowadays
Me oh my!
Howdy Doody's past the house of Aquarious
Bring me more whisky and rye
Big news from the party boat
Oh sir, do not distress, the food is fine
Oh, but I must confess
I do find the wine a wee bit dry
Fifteen men on a dead man's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rye
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
She's sunk full fathom, five, five, five
Fortune tellers make a killing nowadays
Me oh my!
Howdy Doody's past the house of Aquarious
Bring me more whisky and rye
Big news from the party boat
Them bones, them bones, them dry, dry bones
Come down to the locker of Davy Jones
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
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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Punchline
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I think the line "Diane's as fat can be" may be referencing a full moon; Diana is the Roman name for Artemis, the moon goddess.