"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.
When will we open our eyes
And finally discover
We are united by one blood?
When will we realize
We're sisters and brothers
And what the world
Needs now is love?
There's a dreamer inside
Each one of us
Who wants to believe
There is still a dream
To believe in
There is still a hope
After hope is gone
We could be
The father's hands
And give peace a chance
And show the world
There is still a dream (oh)
(aah)
A brother down on his luck
Fallen to chances
We could pick the brother up
A sister down on her knees
Prayin' for answers
Why don't you show
The sister love?
All over the world
Life is unjust
But I do believe
There is still a dream
To believe in
There is still a hope
After hope is gone
We could be
The father's hands
And give peace a chance
And show the world
There is still a dream
And everyone needs one
'cause no one is freed from
The worries of life
That drag us down
If you can't make it
My hands can take it
We'll stand
Together and pray
There is still a dream
To believe in
There is still a hope
After hope is gone
We could be
The father's hands
And give peace a chance
And show the world
(to show the world)
There is still a dream
To believe in
There is still a hope
After hope is gone
We could be
The father's hands
And give peace a chance
And show the world
(whoa-oh)
(to show the world)
There is still a dream
(there's still a dream)
There is still a dream (oh)
And finally discover
We are united by one blood?
When will we realize
We're sisters and brothers
And what the world
Needs now is love?
There's a dreamer inside
Each one of us
Who wants to believe
There is still a dream
To believe in
There is still a hope
After hope is gone
We could be
The father's hands
And give peace a chance
And show the world
There is still a dream (oh)
(aah)
A brother down on his luck
Fallen to chances
We could pick the brother up
A sister down on her knees
Prayin' for answers
Why don't you show
The sister love?
All over the world
Life is unjust
But I do believe
There is still a dream
To believe in
There is still a hope
After hope is gone
We could be
The father's hands
And give peace a chance
And show the world
There is still a dream
And everyone needs one
'cause no one is freed from
The worries of life
That drag us down
If you can't make it
My hands can take it
We'll stand
Together and pray
There is still a dream
To believe in
There is still a hope
After hope is gone
We could be
The father's hands
And give peace a chance
And show the world
(to show the world)
There is still a dream
To believe in
There is still a hope
After hope is gone
We could be
The father's hands
And give peace a chance
And show the world
(whoa-oh)
(to show the world)
There is still a dream
(there's still a dream)
There is still a dream (oh)
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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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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Page
Ed Sheeran
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This is such a beautiful and inspiring song... it almost brings me to tears.
This is such a beautiful and inspiring song... it almost brings me to tears.