"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.
I was surprised
I was happy for a day in 1975
I was puzzled by a dream
It stayed with me all day in 1995
My brother had confessed he was gay
It took the heat off me for a while
He stood up with a sailor friend
Made it known upon my sister's wedding day.
Got married in a rush to save a kid from being deported
Now she's in love
I was so touched, I was moved to kick the crutches
From my crippled friend
She was not impressed
Cause I cured her on the Sabbath
I went to confess
When she saw the funny side, we introduced my child bride
To whiskey and gin
To whiskey and gin.
The priest in the booth had a photographic memory
For all he had heard
He took all of my sins and he wrote a pocket novel
Called The State That I'm In
So I gave myself to God
There was a pregnant pause before he said okay
Now I spend my days turning tables round in Marks & Spencer
They don't seem to mind.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
Oh love of mine, would you condescend to help me?
Cause I am stupid and blind
Desperation is the Devil's work, it is the folly Of a boy's empty mind
Oh and now I'm feeling dangerous
Riding on city buses for a hobby is sad
Why don't you lead me to a living end
I promised that I'd entertain my crippled friend,
My crippled friend.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
I gave myself to sin
And I've been there and back again
Oh yeah
I was happy for a day in 1975
I was puzzled by a dream
It stayed with me all day in 1995
My brother had confessed he was gay
It took the heat off me for a while
He stood up with a sailor friend
Made it known upon my sister's wedding day.
Got married in a rush to save a kid from being deported
Now she's in love
I was so touched, I was moved to kick the crutches
From my crippled friend
She was not impressed
Cause I cured her on the Sabbath
I went to confess
When she saw the funny side, we introduced my child bride
To whiskey and gin
To whiskey and gin.
The priest in the booth had a photographic memory
For all he had heard
He took all of my sins and he wrote a pocket novel
Called The State That I'm In
So I gave myself to God
There was a pregnant pause before he said okay
Now I spend my days turning tables round in Marks & Spencer
They don't seem to mind.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
Oh love of mine, would you condescend to help me?
Cause I am stupid and blind
Desperation is the Devil's work, it is the folly Of a boy's empty mind
Oh and now I'm feeling dangerous
Riding on city buses for a hobby is sad
Why don't you lead me to a living end
I promised that I'd entertain my crippled friend,
My crippled friend.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
I gave myself to sin, I gave
Myself to providence and I've
Been there and back again
The state that I am in.
I gave myself to sin
And I've been there and back again
Oh yeah
Lyrics submitted by girlboyrevolt, edited by Mellow_Harsher
The State I Am In Lyrics as written by Isobel Campbell Christopher Geddes
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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jesusaurous your point is (of course) only correct if you are talking about the version from Tigermilk. The lyrics are correct for the superior version from the Dog on Wheels EP.