"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.
You're a power spot rotating, ever-changing
Transmitting like a radio wave frequently feeling
What's goin' on times are weird all this static
Things erratic seems like we lost the magic
See hear how clear is inner quality
A yin and yang type of thang sacred geometry
Ascending mad energy crazy bad
You're something NASA fuckin' wish they had
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within, sing along
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within
You're a star creator soul craft generator
Movin' through time and space son you're a liberator
But you're memory has been erased
The things you knew misplaced check it out
Babylon life style we scorn
Now we live again In L.A. Tokyo and New York
Come on pay a fee smoke your booty weed
Put gas in your tank keep your city bumpin'
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within, sing along
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within, sing along
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within
Transmitting like a radio wave frequently feeling
What's goin' on times are weird all this static
Things erratic seems like we lost the magic
See hear how clear is inner quality
A yin and yang type of thang sacred geometry
Ascending mad energy crazy bad
You're something NASA fuckin' wish they had
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within, sing along
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within
You're a star creator soul craft generator
Movin' through time and space son you're a liberator
But you're memory has been erased
The things you knew misplaced check it out
Babylon life style we scorn
Now we live again In L.A. Tokyo and New York
Come on pay a fee smoke your booty weed
Put gas in your tank keep your city bumpin'
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within, sing along
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within, sing along
Tune in for those who are wantin'
Vision feel it from within
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This song kicks major ass....just play it really loud in your car or somewhere....it'll grow on u....all 311 songs always end up doing that....