"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.
So your brother's bound and gagged
And they've chained him to a chair
Won't you please come to chicago just to sing
In a land that's known as freedom how can such a thing be fair
Won't you please come to chicago for the help that we can bring
We can change the world rearrange the world
It's dying - to get better
Politicians sit yourselves down, there's nothing for you here
Won't you please come to chicago for a ride
Don't ask jack to help you `cause he'll turn the other ear
Won't you please come to chicago or else join the other side
We can change the world rearrange the world
It's dying - if you believe in justice
Dying - and if you believe in freedom
Dying - let a man live his own life
Dying - rules and regulations, who needs them open up the door
Somehow people must be free I hope the day comes soon
Won't you please come to chicago show your face
From the bottom of the ocean to the mountains of the moon
Won't you please come to chicago no one else can take your place
We can change the world rearrange the world
It's dying - if you believe in justice
Dying - and if you believe in freedom
Dying - let a man live his own life
Dying - rules and regulations, who needs them open up the door
And they've chained him to a chair
Won't you please come to chicago just to sing
In a land that's known as freedom how can such a thing be fair
Won't you please come to chicago for the help that we can bring
We can change the world rearrange the world
It's dying - to get better
Politicians sit yourselves down, there's nothing for you here
Won't you please come to chicago for a ride
Don't ask jack to help you `cause he'll turn the other ear
Won't you please come to chicago or else join the other side
We can change the world rearrange the world
It's dying - if you believe in justice
Dying - and if you believe in freedom
Dying - let a man live his own life
Dying - rules and regulations, who needs them open up the door
Somehow people must be free I hope the day comes soon
Won't you please come to chicago show your face
From the bottom of the ocean to the mountains of the moon
Won't you please come to chicago no one else can take your place
We can change the world rearrange the world
It's dying - if you believe in justice
Dying - and if you believe in freedom
Dying - let a man live his own life
Dying - rules and regulations, who needs them open up the door
Lyrics submitted by Mr. Tambourine Man
Chicago Lyrics as written by Jack S. Conrad Donald Clint Goodman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Yeah, I would guess it's about the Chicago 8 trial as well. The first line sounds like a reference to Bobby Seale.
Yes, its about the trial and especially the binding and gagging of Bobby Seale during the trial. There was a call for Leftists to come to stand in solidarity with the Chicago 8 and testify on behalf of the defendants. Nash wanted his bandmates Crosby and Stills to come and sing in Chicago to support the defendants. He wrote this right at that time.