"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.
so this is it.
oh my god i imagined something more.
the streets just set themselves on fire
and the parents came out,
to see if their kids were still alive and well.
well the plague has taken this town, to a whole new level of hell
and unless we instill a new sense of security
we will lose every essence of family
but weve run out of medicine
our morale's just a ghost
and most of them are at each others throats
and the kids are growing dim
well at least we can solve overpopulation!
well this burg's a disaster waiting to happen
and right now i need you so much more
so hey!
wont you take my hand, we dont need to pray, we can move out to the country and we'll be okay!
well even when your skin turns grey, youll still be beautiful to me!
so my darling ill fix the car, take us out so far we can actually see the stars
well i remember we found some sort of hope breaking through the city skyline
well its about time!
so wont you get my favorite clothes
wont you get my favorite books
dont grab a bottle of wine
and dont you dare take a second look
cause you just might turn to a pillar of salt
its killing us, and its not even our fault!
and as much as id love to take a walk
down the city streets that used to mean to much to me
now im paving my path on autumn leaves.
you think we can bury the leaves as well?
so lets quarantine ourselves
(they woudlve done it anyway!)
we wont ever come out
but just dont let a word fall from your mouth
about the end of the world
cause you and i both know, these people fear the apocalypse
well the essence of the end, came over us like a cold front
and this seasons a drought
so we can dance for rain
but we dont need an excuse, we wouldve done it anyway!
and do you think if we slept through this morning wed be back in time for a party or two?
well nonsense my dear, you know the parties are all through!
cause you just might turn to a pillar of salt
its killing us, and its not even our fault!
and as much as id love to take a walk
down the city streets that used to mean to much to me
now im paving my path on autumn leaves.
you think we can bury the leaves as well?
i woke up this morning to a sight even angels would envy,
the sight of you laying next to me.
and i said to you, in your deepest of sleep
this is a moment i could keep till i pass along
and the sounds of your breathing almost sounded like a song
a song you sing even when you know you can handle anything!
so come on, the sun's just right, we can run through the trees to outrun the light.
cause you just might turn to a pillar of salt
its killing us, and its not even our fault!
and as much as id love to take a walk
down the city streets that used to mean to much to me
now im paving my path on autumn leaves.
you think we can bury the leaves as well?
wake up
stand up
look out your window
theyre knocking at your door
so fake luck
and maybe they wont knock anymore.
oh my god i imagined something more.
the streets just set themselves on fire
and the parents came out,
to see if their kids were still alive and well.
well the plague has taken this town, to a whole new level of hell
and unless we instill a new sense of security
we will lose every essence of family
but weve run out of medicine
our morale's just a ghost
and most of them are at each others throats
and the kids are growing dim
well at least we can solve overpopulation!
well this burg's a disaster waiting to happen
and right now i need you so much more
so hey!
wont you take my hand, we dont need to pray, we can move out to the country and we'll be okay!
well even when your skin turns grey, youll still be beautiful to me!
so my darling ill fix the car, take us out so far we can actually see the stars
well i remember we found some sort of hope breaking through the city skyline
well its about time!
so wont you get my favorite clothes
wont you get my favorite books
dont grab a bottle of wine
and dont you dare take a second look
cause you just might turn to a pillar of salt
its killing us, and its not even our fault!
and as much as id love to take a walk
down the city streets that used to mean to much to me
now im paving my path on autumn leaves.
you think we can bury the leaves as well?
so lets quarantine ourselves
(they woudlve done it anyway!)
we wont ever come out
but just dont let a word fall from your mouth
about the end of the world
cause you and i both know, these people fear the apocalypse
well the essence of the end, came over us like a cold front
and this seasons a drought
so we can dance for rain
but we dont need an excuse, we wouldve done it anyway!
and do you think if we slept through this morning wed be back in time for a party or two?
well nonsense my dear, you know the parties are all through!
cause you just might turn to a pillar of salt
its killing us, and its not even our fault!
and as much as id love to take a walk
down the city streets that used to mean to much to me
now im paving my path on autumn leaves.
you think we can bury the leaves as well?
i woke up this morning to a sight even angels would envy,
the sight of you laying next to me.
and i said to you, in your deepest of sleep
this is a moment i could keep till i pass along
and the sounds of your breathing almost sounded like a song
a song you sing even when you know you can handle anything!
so come on, the sun's just right, we can run through the trees to outrun the light.
cause you just might turn to a pillar of salt
its killing us, and its not even our fault!
and as much as id love to take a walk
down the city streets that used to mean to much to me
now im paving my path on autumn leaves.
you think we can bury the leaves as well?
wake up
stand up
look out your window
theyre knocking at your door
so fake luck
and maybe they wont knock anymore.
Lyrics submitted by DarkerShadeofWinter
Black Plagues, Black Hearts (Intimate Quarantine ) song meanings
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Fast Car
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