"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.
Well future stepped into my field and turned it into an empire
Forefathers where are you now?
Your dust is settling on my furniture
Oh independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
Oh independence day.
Well I stepped out of a cloud and the ditch it is close
I mean the ditch it is closing in.
Hemingway did yourself justice
So here's to you you articulate dead fisherman
Independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
Independence day.
Independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
Independence day.
What if I said I loved you
And I needed your guidance to help me through the obstacles?
Would you say I am too wordy and then, then would you laugh?
What if I said I'm under glass untouchable as the document itself?
Would you say ok,
And that you never even considered me?
Oh independence day, yes Independence,
Independence day, independence,
Independence day, day,
Independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
Forefathers where are you now?
Your dust is settling on my furniture
Oh independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
Oh independence day.
Well I stepped out of a cloud and the ditch it is close
I mean the ditch it is closing in.
Hemingway did yourself justice
So here's to you you articulate dead fisherman
Independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
Independence day.
Independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
Independence day.
What if I said I loved you
And I needed your guidance to help me through the obstacles?
Would you say I am too wordy and then, then would you laugh?
What if I said I'm under glass untouchable as the document itself?
Would you say ok,
And that you never even considered me?
Oh independence day, yes Independence,
Independence day, independence,
Independence day, day,
Independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
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I can't believe I'm the first person to comment on Vic Chesnutt, who's got to be one of the top five American lyricists alive today.
Anyway, what I love about this one, among other things, is the self-reflexive last line, where Vic acknowledges that the analogy of national to personal independence is pretty cheesy -- it's that kind of self-consciousness that endears him to me. And it runs through the whole song -- the whole legend of Hemingway as the macho, self-absorbed, isolated, doomed literary hero is kind of ridiculous and Vic knows it, but it's still a big deal to him. And ultimately the emotional stance he's interested in here -- the rugged emotional individualist -- is bound up in America's history of itself, political and otherwise. Vic Chesnutt for President!
I can't believe you are/were either.<br /> I've read these lyrics and your post multiple times.<br /> I signed in today for the first time in over two years to tell you this...<br /> and to grieve with you.<br /> Vic Chesnutt will be missed.<br /> I can't believe he's gone.<br /> This has been the most tragic Christmas moment I've ever encountered and have been listening to his music non-stop ever since, in memoriam.<br /> listen with me and never, ever, forget how important his music was.