"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.
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Now this is what it's like
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Now this is what it's like
What is it really that's going on here?
You've got the system for total control
Now is there anybody out there?
Now watch us suffer, yeah, 'cause we can't go
What is it really that is in your head?
What little life that you had just died
I'm gonna be the one that's taking over
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Are you ready to go?
'Cause I'm ready to go
What you gonna do baby, baby?
Are you going with me?
'Cause I'm going with you
That's the end of all time
What is it really that motivates you?
The need to fly or this fear to stop?
I'll go along when you realize
When we get there I say nine of ten drop
Now who's the light and who is the devil?
You can't decide, so I'll be your guide
And one by one, they will be hand chosen
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Are you ready to go?
'Cause I'm ready to go
What you gonna do baby, baby?
Are you going with me?
'Cause I'm going with you
That's the end of all time
You are a robot
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Now this is what it's like
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Now this is what it's like
What is it really when they're falling over?
Everything that you thought was denied
I'm gonna be the one that's taking over
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Are you ready to go?
'Cause I'm ready to go
What you gonna do baby, baby?
Are you going with me?
'Cause I'm going with you
That's the end of all time
Are you ready to go?
'Cause I'm ready to go
What you gonna do baby, baby?
Are you going with me?
'Cause I'm going with you
That's the end of all time
Are you ready?
Yeah, I'm ready
That's the end of all time
Are you going?
Yeah, I'm going
That's the end of all time
Now this is what it's like
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Now this is what it's like
What is it really that's going on here?
You've got the system for total control
Now is there anybody out there?
Now watch us suffer, yeah, 'cause we can't go
What is it really that is in your head?
What little life that you had just died
I'm gonna be the one that's taking over
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Are you ready to go?
'Cause I'm ready to go
What you gonna do baby, baby?
Are you going with me?
'Cause I'm going with you
That's the end of all time
What is it really that motivates you?
The need to fly or this fear to stop?
I'll go along when you realize
When we get there I say nine of ten drop
Now who's the light and who is the devil?
You can't decide, so I'll be your guide
And one by one, they will be hand chosen
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Are you ready to go?
'Cause I'm ready to go
What you gonna do baby, baby?
Are you going with me?
'Cause I'm going with you
That's the end of all time
You are a robot
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Now this is what it's like
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Now this is what it's like
What is it really when they're falling over?
Everything that you thought was denied
I'm gonna be the one that's taking over
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Are you ready to go?
'Cause I'm ready to go
What you gonna do baby, baby?
Are you going with me?
'Cause I'm going with you
That's the end of all time
Are you ready to go?
'Cause I'm ready to go
What you gonna do baby, baby?
Are you going with me?
'Cause I'm going with you
That's the end of all time
Are you ready?
Yeah, I'm ready
That's the end of all time
Are you going?
Yeah, I'm going
That's the end of all time
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Fast Car
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Page
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quiffporn, if you don't like Powerman 5000, why do you listen to their music? And go to the bother of commenting on a band you don't like? You're fucking stupid.
Is anyone actually going to put in a song meaning?
I think this song is about two completely uncompatible people who are trying to fit in but circumstances fuck everything up, or about aliens taking over the world... this is a pretty dam abstract song when it comes to the meaning, but it FUCKING ROCKS!