"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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