"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.
They say it's me,
That makes you do things
You might not have done,
If I was away
And that's it's me,
That likes to talk to you
And watches you,
As you walk away
Don't say it's useless,
Don't say forget it
Don't bring me wishes,
Of silly dreams
Just say it's all,
From too much freedom
Too many fingers,
And to anything
They say it's you,
That washes the weary
And brings the night into the day
If you won't notice,
How can I show you
All of you worries,
Have all gone away
Don't leave me lonely,
Don't leave me unhappy
Just bring me up into your fate
If you don't need me,
Then don't deceive me
Letting my freedom turn into stone
Just be my angel,
If you love me
Be my angel,
In the night
Be my angel,
'Cause you need me
Be my angel,
And treat me right
Don't say you love me,
If you don't need me
Don't send me roses,
On your behalf
Just take me down,
And walk through your river
Down the middle,
And make it last
Holding on to you,
Holding on to me
Holding on tight,
'Till my love is crossed
Don't say it's useless,
And don't say forget it
You are my spirit,
Now you are gone
That makes you do things
You might not have done,
If I was away
And that's it's me,
That likes to talk to you
And watches you,
As you walk away
Don't say it's useless,
Don't say forget it
Don't bring me wishes,
Of silly dreams
Just say it's all,
From too much freedom
Too many fingers,
And to anything
They say it's you,
That washes the weary
And brings the night into the day
If you won't notice,
How can I show you
All of you worries,
Have all gone away
Don't leave me lonely,
Don't leave me unhappy
Just bring me up into your fate
If you don't need me,
Then don't deceive me
Letting my freedom turn into stone
Just be my angel,
If you love me
Be my angel,
In the night
Be my angel,
'Cause you need me
Be my angel,
And treat me right
Don't say you love me,
If you don't need me
Don't send me roses,
On your behalf
Just take me down,
And walk through your river
Down the middle,
And make it last
Holding on to you,
Holding on to me
Holding on tight,
'Till my love is crossed
Don't say it's useless,
And don't say forget it
You are my spirit,
Now you are gone
Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by smallwonderrobot, fresnel-lens
Be My Angel Lyrics as written by Hope Sandoval David Roback
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I do love the song. I think it's about man's relationship with god. And, perhaps, it criticizes those whose faith is gain based, or those who keep their faith out of fear or simply tradition or habit. Though, I do think either the last two verses should be cut, or maybe just the second to last verse should be cut (the one starting with "just be my angel"), the song seems to suffer from unnecessary ending lyrics.