"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.
A small human only pretends to die
it wanted to be completely alone
the small heart stood still for hours
so they decided it was dead
it is being buried in wet sand
with a music box in its hand
The first snow covers the grave
it woke the child very softly
in a cold winter night
the small heart is awakened
As the frost flew into the child
it wound up the music box
a melody in the wind
and the child sings from the ground
Up and down, rider **
and no angel climbs down
my heart does not beat anymore
only the rain cries on the grave
up and down, rider
a melody in the wind
my heart does not beat anymore
and the child sings from the ground
The cold moon, in full magnificence
it hears the cries in the night
and no angel climbs down
only the rain cries on the grave
Between hard oak boards
it will play with the music box
a melody in the wind
and the child sings from the ground
Up and down, rider
and no angel climbs down
my heart does not beat anymore
only the rain cries on the grave
up and down, rider
a melody in the wind
my heart does not beat anymore
and the child sings from the ground
Up and down, rider
my heart does not beat anymore
On Totensonntag they heard
this melody from god's field
then they unearthed it
they saved the small heart in the child
Up and down, rider
a melody in the wind
my heart does not beat anymore
and the child sings on the ground
up and down, rider
and no angel climbs down
my heart does not beat anymore
only the rain cries on the grave
it wanted to be completely alone
the small heart stood still for hours
so they decided it was dead
it is being buried in wet sand
with a music box in its hand
The first snow covers the grave
it woke the child very softly
in a cold winter night
the small heart is awakened
As the frost flew into the child
it wound up the music box
a melody in the wind
and the child sings from the ground
Up and down, rider **
and no angel climbs down
my heart does not beat anymore
only the rain cries on the grave
up and down, rider
a melody in the wind
my heart does not beat anymore
and the child sings from the ground
The cold moon, in full magnificence
it hears the cries in the night
and no angel climbs down
only the rain cries on the grave
Between hard oak boards
it will play with the music box
a melody in the wind
and the child sings from the ground
Up and down, rider
and no angel climbs down
my heart does not beat anymore
only the rain cries on the grave
up and down, rider
a melody in the wind
my heart does not beat anymore
and the child sings from the ground
Up and down, rider
my heart does not beat anymore
On Totensonntag they heard
this melody from god's field
then they unearthed it
they saved the small heart in the child
Up and down, rider
a melody in the wind
my heart does not beat anymore
and the child sings on the ground
up and down, rider
and no angel climbs down
my heart does not beat anymore
only the rain cries on the grave
Lyrics submitted by John M
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ladyMage is right about one thing it is sung like till is telling a story, i think that was intended cos "Hoppe hoppe Reiter" which is the "up and down rider" is from a german kids song:
Up and down, rider if he falls, then he cries out up and down, rider if he falls, then he cries out if he falls into the marsh then the rider makes a plop Up and down, rider if he falls, then he cries out if he falls onto the rocks then his legs cause him pain if he falls in the marsh then the rider makes a plop
Up and down, rider if he falls, then he cries out if he falls into the ditch then the ravens devour him if he falls in the marsh then the rider makes a plop
that is an english translation of the kids song.