"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.
Ah, loving you is easy, you are on my side
We play the game strictly to our rules
We led the field, a love affair
Which made all other lovers fools
Oh
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down?
These promises are made for us (oh-oh)
We promised that we'd always have time for each other
Whenever I needed you'd be there
We promised to be true, there'd be no other
We promised that for ever we would care
Oh
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down?
These promises are made for us (oh-oh)
We had to change
Oh, but you stayed the same
You wouldn't change
Oh, what a shame
'Cause loving you's not easy, you're not on my side
We play a game with two sets of rules
We lead the field in a love affair
Ah, strictly meant for fools
Oh
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down?
Those promises were made for us (oh-oh)
You never have any time for me
Whenever I need you, you're not there
You've never been true and it's plain to see
The fact is you never really cared
Oh
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down?
Those promises we made for us (oh-oh)
We play the game strictly to our rules
We led the field, a love affair
Which made all other lovers fools
Oh
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down?
These promises are made for us (oh-oh)
We promised that we'd always have time for each other
Whenever I needed you'd be there
We promised to be true, there'd be no other
We promised that for ever we would care
Oh
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down?
These promises are made for us (oh-oh)
We had to change
Oh, but you stayed the same
You wouldn't change
Oh, what a shame
'Cause loving you's not easy, you're not on my side
We play a game with two sets of rules
We lead the field in a love affair
Ah, strictly meant for fools
Oh
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down?
Those promises were made for us (oh-oh)
You never have any time for me
Whenever I need you, you're not there
You've never been true and it's plain to see
The fact is you never really cared
Oh
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down?
Those promises we made for us (oh-oh)
Lyrics submitted by rimzilwave
Promises Lyrics as written by Pete Shelley Steve Diggle
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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