"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.
Sometimes I feel so happy
Sometimes I feel so sad
Sometimes I feel so happy
But mostly you just make me mad
Baby, you just make me mad
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Thought of you as my mountain top
Thought of you as my peak
A thought of you as everything
I've had, but couldn't keep
I've had, but couldn't keep
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Skip a life completely
Stuff it in a cup
They said, money is like us in time
It lies, but can't stand up
Down for you is up
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
It was good what we did yesterday
And I'd do it once again
The fact that you are married
Only proves you're my best friend
But it's truly, truly a sin
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
If I could make the world as pure
And strange as what I see
I'd put you in a mirror
I'd put in front of me
I'd put in front of me
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Sometimes I feel so sad
Sometimes I feel so happy
But mostly you just make me mad
Baby, you just make me mad
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Thought of you as my mountain top
Thought of you as my peak
A thought of you as everything
I've had, but couldn't keep
I've had, but couldn't keep
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Skip a life completely
Stuff it in a cup
They said, money is like us in time
It lies, but can't stand up
Down for you is up
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
It was good what we did yesterday
And I'd do it once again
The fact that you are married
Only proves you're my best friend
But it's truly, truly a sin
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
If I could make the world as pure
And strange as what I see
I'd put you in a mirror
I'd put in front of me
I'd put in front of me
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
Linger on your pale blue eyes
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this is actually one of the best songs ive ever heard. dont have a clue what its about though.....adultery?
This song is a classic, if you havent heard of Lou Reed or the Velvet Underground, go and get their self title and Berlin or Transformer, this song reminds me of a the good things ive had and let go because I drank too much, just makes you feel like shes too good for you and no matter what you do, youll never think youre good enough for her
How is there only two comments on this masterpiece?
"Thought of you as everything I've had but couldn't keep"
I think might possibly be one my favourite lines ever written by Lou. 'Pale Blue Eyes' cycles backwards through an adulterous relationship.
there's what they did, ("it's truly, truly a sin")
then there's what she said ("money is like us in time/lies but can't stand up") - she's married to a wealthy man, although she admits money is pointless.
Then there's his response-("I'd put you in the mirror, I out in front of me") - He wishes he had more of a moral conscience like her, but doesn't care about her husband because he's so infatuated with her.
Then there's his thoughts, possibly not vocalised to her ("thought of you as my mountaintop, thought of you as my peak")- he knows it's over, and she's chosen to stay with her husband over him, a part of him always knew she was ("something I've had but couldn't keep")
Lastly, but as the opening of the song, his reflections on the situation, possibly sometime later, sometimes he feels sad, but mostly, he now sees the situation in an angering light. like the stages of grief, he has surpassed loss, sadness and disbelief and now blames her.
Lou Reed has always been a great songwriter , but I had read a comment up here just a few minutes ago that said what I feel but now it’s gone just gone. Weird.. I too believe it’s about a love that transcends beyond society labels and beyond what we were taught growing up there’s no ownership or petty jealousies. No matter who they are with they do know their love goes way beyond because they are on the same plain or wave length that’s spiritual