"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.
(leaving terra, leaving terra, leaving terra)
If you're a thought you will want me to think you
And I did
Invited a guest up until you, you announced that
You had moved in
"what do you plan to do with all your freedom?"
The new sheriff said, quite proud of his badge
"you must admit the land is now in good hands"
Yes, time will tell that
You just lift your lamp
I will follow her on her path
Scarlet's walk through the violets
Just tell your gods for me
All debts are off this year
They're free to leave, yes
They're free to leave
(leaving terra, leaving terra)
There was a time when I thought that her destiny
Should've been mine
Big brave nation, but instead her
Medicine now forgotten
"What do you plan to do with all your stories"
The new sheriff said, quite proud of his badge
We'll weave them through every rocket's red glare
And huddled masses
You just lift your lamp
I will follow her on her path
Scarlet's walk through the violets
Just tell your gods for me
All debts are off this year
They're free to leave, yes
They're free to leave
(leaving terra, leaving terra)
If you're a thought you will want me to think you
And I did, and I did..
If you're a thought you will want me to think you
And I did
Invited a guest up until you, you announced that
You had moved in
"what do you plan to do with all your freedom?"
The new sheriff said, quite proud of his badge
"you must admit the land is now in good hands"
Yes, time will tell that
You just lift your lamp
I will follow her on her path
Scarlet's walk through the violets
Just tell your gods for me
All debts are off this year
They're free to leave, yes
They're free to leave
(leaving terra, leaving terra)
There was a time when I thought that her destiny
Should've been mine
Big brave nation, but instead her
Medicine now forgotten
"What do you plan to do with all your stories"
The new sheriff said, quite proud of his badge
We'll weave them through every rocket's red glare
And huddled masses
You just lift your lamp
I will follow her on her path
Scarlet's walk through the violets
Just tell your gods for me
All debts are off this year
They're free to leave, yes
They're free to leave
(leaving terra, leaving terra)
If you're a thought you will want me to think you
And I did, and I did..
Lyrics submitted by merchantpierce, edited by Misio
Scarlet's Walk Lyrics as written by Tori Ellen Amos
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I agree with all the comments about the settlers staying and taking over the land. I also think there's a subtext, particularly given the political situation in the US when the album was released. The line 'the new sheriff said, quite proud of his badge, you must admit the land is now in good hands, yes time will tell that' always makes me think of a politician, it could be anyone from the president to a local representative. there's a state of turmoil and war and restlessness and the messages say 'don't worry, we're looking after your interests'. I think Tori is encouraging us to look past the spin, and linking it back to the arrival of the settlers.