"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.
Now has come the time
Indifference born because of lies
Now no matter what you find
This is the end of all the lines
And when it's taken all away
What will you do or will you say
That can erase all the pain
So you can start to rebuild again- focus
In your life do you lead or follow?
What you feel is it joy or sorrow?
Taking pleasure in others pain
As it's calling out your name
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
You'll find when all is said and done
Will you have lost or have you won?
And did you fight or did you run?
Now so you can start to rebuild again- focus
In your life do you lead or follow?
What you feel is it joy or sorrow?
Taking pleasure in others pain
As it's calling out your name
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
Now as the dreams come and go before my eyes
I see the strength and weight of resolve
For all the lying the truth shall remain with overwhelming force
The same as it ever was...
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
Indifference born because of lies
Now no matter what you find
This is the end of all the lines
And when it's taken all away
What will you do or will you say
That can erase all the pain
So you can start to rebuild again- focus
In your life do you lead or follow?
What you feel is it joy or sorrow?
Taking pleasure in others pain
As it's calling out your name
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
You'll find when all is said and done
Will you have lost or have you won?
And did you fight or did you run?
Now so you can start to rebuild again- focus
In your life do you lead or follow?
What you feel is it joy or sorrow?
Taking pleasure in others pain
As it's calling out your name
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
Now as the dreams come and go before my eyes
I see the strength and weight of resolve
For all the lying the truth shall remain with overwhelming force
The same as it ever was...
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
And though I want to hide
When it finds a way
As the pressure burns from the inside...
Lyrics submitted by jc6md
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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Great version of a great song,
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Awsome song. Heard it on Pandora. No idea what it means though. I just love the riffs.
I dont think its only touching on one particular subject?. . . Anyone else?