"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.
Anthony, bullied at school
Get your own back, now you are cool
Or are you scared?
Bunking off though you're a toff
It's all gone wrong again, you've got double maths
And the teacher's got no control so
The boys will run riot, you will stay quiet
Or you will die
Tony at the back of the gym
Smoke another one, your chances are slim
Cause here they come again
And they got you on the ground
Tasting blood again, at least it's your own
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
You may as well take it in the guts, it can't get worse
Take it in the guts, it can't get worse than this
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
Tony, you're a bit of a mess
Melted Toblerone under your dress
And if the boys could see you they would pass you right bye
Blue mascara running over your eye
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
They call you Lord Anthony
But hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it kind of suits you anyway
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
Get your own back, now you are cool
Or are you scared?
Bunking off though you're a toff
It's all gone wrong again, you've got double maths
And the teacher's got no control so
The boys will run riot, you will stay quiet
Or you will die
Tony at the back of the gym
Smoke another one, your chances are slim
Cause here they come again
And they got you on the ground
Tasting blood again, at least it's your own
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
You may as well take it in the guts, it can't get worse
Take it in the guts, it can't get worse than this
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
Tony, you're a bit of a mess
Melted Toblerone under your dress
And if the boys could see you they would pass you right bye
Blue mascara running over your eye
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
They call you Lord Anthony
But hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it kind of suits you anyway
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
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Fast Car
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Great version of a great song,
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