"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.
One toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Awaitin' for the train that goes home, sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Whoooo do you love, I hope it's me
I've bin a changin', as you can plainly see
I felt the joy and I learned about the pain that my momma said
If I should choose to make a part of me, surely strike me dead
Now I'm one toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
I'm waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
I bin away a country mile
Now I'm returnin' showin' off a smile
I met all the girls and loved myself a few
Ended by surprise like everything else I've been through
It opened up my eyes and now I'm
One toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
I want to be
One toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over line
One toke, one toke over the line
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Awaitin' for the train that goes home, sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Whoooo do you love, I hope it's me
I've bin a changin', as you can plainly see
I felt the joy and I learned about the pain that my momma said
If I should choose to make a part of me, surely strike me dead
Now I'm one toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
I'm waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
I bin away a country mile
Now I'm returnin' showin' off a smile
I met all the girls and loved myself a few
Ended by surprise like everything else I've been through
It opened up my eyes and now I'm
One toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
I want to be
One toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over line
One toke, one toke over the line
Lyrics submitted by GravityTime
One Toke Over The Line Lyrics as written by Tom Shipley Michael Brewer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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One toke over the line? Wait 'til you see the bats. Sorry, but whenever i hear this song it reminds me of Fear and Loathing. Good song. Not much I can think to say about this song as far as the meanings go.
Well... according to Lawrence Welk, it's a modern spiritual. :)
I think this song is talking about the end of life...ready for death to come and take you away.
In the first line, he is waiting for the train to take him home...he's talking to "sweet Jesus". Obviously in this case, 'home' is heaven. In the 5th line, he's talking to "sweet Mary".
In the first line, second verse, again he's talking to Jesus when he says, "Who do you love, hope it's me" And at some point everyone who believes in God says 'I can be better, I'll change." This is the next line, "I've bin a changin', as you can plainly see". The 'Joy' and the 'Pain' that his 'momma said' is, I think, teachings, stories and hardships learned from the Bible...easy to read...hard to obey.
The singer strayed from faith and religion "a country mile" (a long way). He experienced life, probably good and bad. Now he's back with a renewed faith and a glad heart. "showin' off a smile". With his eyes open, by golly, he can see The Way...
...and he's ready for the train to take him home.
Never thought I'd agree with Lawrence Welk, but this is a spiritual...
I think this song is about growing up. In the process of "sowing his wild oats" He learned about what's important in life and what really matters. He experienced what his mother taught him. He knows life because he lived it fully. He's indulged in life's pleasures outside of his home, yet now knows that some of the best pleasures are back there. And over the line means he is sooo anxious to get on the train to go home his foot is already over the line at the station waiting to get on and go back.. Also. When he says "If I should make a part of me" I think he is talking about having a child. And the statement that follows is out of his fear, not because of commitment, but because he understands what his mother was talking about...love, spirituality, family and home.
Good song. My 16 year old son just discovered it and loves it.