"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.
Bolts of lightning - out of the blue
Without forewarning - the heat is on you
Watch what you say - the phone maybe tapped
Under heavy surveillance - looks like you're trapped
Under investigation - whether guilty or not
Without your own doing - you're part of the plot
Trying to hide - going underground
Just a matter of time until you will be found
The noose is tightening - there's no return
Moral cleansing - free thinking must burn
This is serious - your face in the mud
The end of the story is written in blood
Freeze! Down on your knees! Beaten and bound
Tarred and feathered they parade you around
The media is feasting - your face on the news
It's a feeding frenzy - a mob on the loose
It doesn't matter what you say or do
There is no justice - no future for you
Because you're the scapegoat you are to blame
This is your life - 15 minutes of shame
Witch hunt - guilty by association
Witch hunt - systematic defamation
Witch hunt - process of elimination
Witch hunt - demonized and sacrificed
Witch hunt - guilty by association
Witch hunt - merciless interrogation
Witch hunt - ill-reputed executed
Witch hunt - which hunt?
Burn that witch
Witch hunt - guilty by association
Witch hunt - methodical eradication
Witch hunt - crucified by morning light
Witch hunt - which hunt?
Burn that witch
You've always been different - you've spoken your mind
Set yourself apart - now they hate your kind
A foreign element - the unknown factor
An alien component - the Hannibal Lecter
Without forewarning - the heat is on you
Watch what you say - the phone maybe tapped
Under heavy surveillance - looks like you're trapped
Under investigation - whether guilty or not
Without your own doing - you're part of the plot
Trying to hide - going underground
Just a matter of time until you will be found
The noose is tightening - there's no return
Moral cleansing - free thinking must burn
This is serious - your face in the mud
The end of the story is written in blood
Freeze! Down on your knees! Beaten and bound
Tarred and feathered they parade you around
The media is feasting - your face on the news
It's a feeding frenzy - a mob on the loose
It doesn't matter what you say or do
There is no justice - no future for you
Because you're the scapegoat you are to blame
This is your life - 15 minutes of shame
Witch hunt - guilty by association
Witch hunt - systematic defamation
Witch hunt - process of elimination
Witch hunt - demonized and sacrificed
Witch hunt - guilty by association
Witch hunt - merciless interrogation
Witch hunt - ill-reputed executed
Witch hunt - which hunt?
Burn that witch
Witch hunt - guilty by association
Witch hunt - methodical eradication
Witch hunt - crucified by morning light
Witch hunt - which hunt?
Burn that witch
You've always been different - you've spoken your mind
Set yourself apart - now they hate your kind
A foreign element - the unknown factor
An alien component - the Hannibal Lecter
Lyrics submitted by implode
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NorseFlame is right. They've mentioned the meaning in several interviews.
I think this one's about that time after when the Columbine school massacre happened Sascha&Co were blamed for the shooting's because one of the Columbine kids had lyrics of KMFDM's songs on his site. And the media pointed thjeir finger t Sascha and co.
that's interesting I never thought it about in that context... But it would make sense
This is one of my favourite MDFMK songs. I especially enjoy the chorus. I 100% agree with the meaning given by NorseFlame.