"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 they turn the pages of history
When these days have passed long ago
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow?
We turned our gaze
From the castles in the distance
Eyes cast down
On the path of least resistance
Cities full of hatred
Fear and lies
Withered hearts
And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise
The hypocrites are slandering
The sacred halls of truth
Ancient nobles showering
Their bitterness on youth
Can't we find
The minds that made us strong?
Oh, can't we learn
To feel what's right and what's wrong? What's wrong
Cities full of hatred
Fear and lies
Withered hearts
And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise
Whoa, can't we raise our eyes
And make a start?
Can't we find the minds
To lead us closer to the heart?
When these days have passed long ago
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow?
We turned our gaze
From the castles in the distance
Eyes cast down
On the path of least resistance
Cities full of hatred
Fear and lies
Withered hearts
And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise
The hypocrites are slandering
The sacred halls of truth
Ancient nobles showering
Their bitterness on youth
Can't we find
The minds that made us strong?
Oh, can't we learn
To feel what's right and what's wrong? What's wrong
Cities full of hatred
Fear and lies
Withered hearts
And cruel, tormented eyes
Scheming demons
Dressed in kingly guise
Beating down the multitude
And scoffing at the wise
Whoa, can't we raise our eyes
And make a start?
Can't we find the minds
To lead us closer to the heart?
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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It doesn't even only apply to politicians. It can be some head of a corporation who wants nothing but money. We have shelved cars that run soley on vegetable oil and mere garbage and are millions of times more effecient, because we want the income from gas money. It's sickening, and Neil hits the nail on the head... like always.
I think this song warns of the corruption of our leaders, and the peoples general disillusionment and complacency in regards to politics. We turn away from the "Castles" which are the centers of political power, and take the path of least resistance. While corrupt politicians spread fear, lies, and corruption in our society. Rush is saying that people are going to have to start caring, and acting in order for real positive change to occur in our society.
@MattK87 Seems more true now than ever
i cant believe no one commented on this!!! rush is the best band ever and this song is great. i love the classical guitar in the beginning. im definitely a metal head but that shows how brilliant and talented alex lifeson is-he can play anything! he is so underated
i totally agree with you, you will not find alex life son on any top 20 list of guitarists anywhere even though he has some of the greatest riffs of all time
Agree with LukeD. But as for not respecting smart people, it is smart people that causes all the problems. Or, at least, people we think are smart - politicians - however, the clever people are the ones who see through politicians lies, but never get the recognitiion from the masses, as the politicians control the media
It doesn't even only apply to politicians. It can be some head of a corporation who wants nothing but money. We have shelved cars that run soley on vegetable oil and mere garbage and are millions of times more effecient, because we want the income from gas money. It's sickening, and Neil hits the nail on the head... like always.
I think this song warns of the corruption of our leaders, and the peoples general disillusionment and complacency in regards to politics. We turn away from the "Castles" which are the centers of political power, and take the path of least resistance. While corrupt politicians spread fear, lies, and corruption in our society. Rush is saying that people are going to have to start caring, and acting in order for real positive change to occur in our society.
the bass line after the third verse never fail to blow me away
You all may be right, but I think that in this song Rush isn't only speaking of world leaders and business tycoons; using pronouns like "we" and "us" suggest that they mean everybody, not just the people in charge. There is corruption everywhere (in the words of George Carlin, "Bullshit is rampant"). I think the "Castles" mentioned are the castles in the sky -- that society of our dreams, the one everyone fantasizes about when thinking of their own Utopia. This song advises us to turn away from atrocities of the past and even of the present, and start working productively together to make life better for everyone.
One of my favorites.
Could this be related in any way to the French Revolution? (yes, I know Bastille Day is), because some of the lyrics in the beginning remind me of the feelings felt at the time.
Thank you for your comments Stephanie...the ultimate understanding of this song is that WE THE PEOPLE (the 99.9999%) have allowed ourselves to be distracted from GRAND VISIONS of reaching the stars, to merely become wanderers always seeking paths of least resistance, hoping to somehow survive.
Just think of the great movie of truth, Network, all people have become is childish adults "hiding" in their homes, praying to the "big, bad world" to leave them alone...to just let them have their food, TV and pornography to get by...instead of realizing that we are all INFINITE BEINGS OF CONSCIOUSNESS that don't need to "ask" for anything...beings of wisdom and courage that create their own paths, regardless of what others think.
This is the "Farewell" to Kings...when we AWAKEN and realize our limitless potential, we can be anything that we wish...and when we do so, we will no longer require governments/rulers, who are ONLY EVER LOOKING AFTER THEIR OWN INTERESTS, to lie to us for a living. WE are the answer...WE are the way...and when WE wake up to this universal truth, there's NOTHING that the ruling elites will be able to do!
As always, THANK YOU to Neil Peart for his wisdom and COURAGE to share these truths with us, resulting in the "critics" always savaging Rush. Critic Robert Christgau gave this record a D rating, calling Rush "the most obnoxious band currently making a killing on the zonked teen circuit." Why would he say this about the most enlightened, artistic, courageous band in the world??? B/c critics are INVENTIONS of the ruling elite to squash any attempts at change, and maintain the bullshit narrative of the Status Quo.
Understand this...human society on Earth is the ONLY form of existence in the entire Universe that doesn't significantly change in every moment...so ask yourself this question...WHY? Why is it so painful for any political body to make significant changes? Why do critics hate artists that tell the truth and push the boundaries of the status quo? Answer these and you will have a strong understanding of how organized society truly functions! From there, we can all come together and embrace the natural occurrence of change through the vibration of Love!