"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.
He was just a workin' man,
Simple rules and simple plans,
Fancy words he didn't understand,
He loved with his heart,
He worked with his hands.
Liberals dream of equal rights,
Conservatives live in a world gone by,
Socialists preach of a promised land,
But old uncle son, was an ordinary man.
Bless you uncle son,
They won't forget you, when the revolution comes.
Unionists tell you when to strike,
Generals tell you when to fight,
Preachers tell you wrong from right,
They'll feed you when you're born,
And use you all your life.
Bless you uncle son,
They won't forget you when the revolution comes.
Simple rules and simple plans,
Fancy words he didn't understand,
He loved with his heart,
He worked with his hands.
Liberals dream of equal rights,
Conservatives live in a world gone by,
Socialists preach of a promised land,
But old uncle son, was an ordinary man.
Bless you uncle son,
They won't forget you, when the revolution comes.
Unionists tell you when to strike,
Generals tell you when to fight,
Preachers tell you wrong from right,
They'll feed you when you're born,
And use you all your life.
Bless you uncle son,
They won't forget you when the revolution comes.
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
Uncle Son Lyrics as written by Davies
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is just another example of Ray Davies' brilliance as a songwriter. This is one of my favorite Kinks songs. I actually put the lyrics in my collection of favorite quotes. The song is absolutely timeless and in the current polarized, utterly frustrating political environment in the U.S. it provides a welcome relief. There are many ordinary, hard-working, honorable people out there that are often used (sometimes abused) for a politcal system's own benefit. But these people and their modest lives are really the ones who should be honored and put on a pedestal. Typical Ray, critical of society and life, but always noting the silver linings. There is a small group of people out there who are aware and understand the Kinks and all their incredible songs. The mainstream media and general population will never get it. Those of us in the know can treasure our little secret. I like it better that way.
The small group of people is not so small as you might think. But I get your point. The Kinks (Ray's lyrics) are beyond what most people can appreciate. So they never get our little secret :)
Why “Uncle Son”? Does anyone know Ray’s reasons for using that term?
Also, even though 6 years has passed since the last comment, I greatly identified with the post and the first reply. I pulled out Muswell Hillbillies to cheer myself up after a tough blow. Thought nostalgia would help (it did).
I had forgotten about Uncle Son. I could not believe how relevant it was to 2018 America.
God bless the village green!
@Tina Veritas - Just my thought, but I think 'Uncle Son' is us. All of us are Uncle Son.<br />
@Tina Veritas Ray had an uncle, I believe on his mom's side, named Sonny, Son for short. If I remember correctly, he was really radical, waiting for the revolution of the people. The song is a tribute to his uncle.