"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, I've seen you hanging round and round
On the streets with something on your mind
Don't you think that I'm being fresh?
Only want to lay with you
Promise you won't smell no fish
I said fish
Well, I don't want you to think I'm being obscene
When I say, say, say I wanna hold your hand
Feelin' kinda cold,need somethin' hot to hold
Only wanna lay with you
Promise you won't smell no fish
I said fish
Fish, fish
Well, I've seen you hangin' round and round
On the streets with somethin' that's on your mind
Don't you think that I'm being fresh
Only wanna lay with you
Promise you won't smell no fish
I said fish
I said fish
I said fish
On the streets with something on your mind
Don't you think that I'm being fresh?
Only want to lay with you
Promise you won't smell no fish
I said fish
Well, I don't want you to think I'm being obscene
When I say, say, say I wanna hold your hand
Feelin' kinda cold,need somethin' hot to hold
Only wanna lay with you
Promise you won't smell no fish
I said fish
Fish, fish
Well, I've seen you hangin' round and round
On the streets with somethin' that's on your mind
Don't you think that I'm being fresh
Only wanna lay with you
Promise you won't smell no fish
I said fish
I said fish
I said fish
Lyrics submitted by x_melancholy_x
Fish Lyrics as written by Brian James
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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"I promise you won't smell no fish" is a great pickup line.