"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.
Twenty days walking so lonely and talking to myself and the rocks and sand
Got me to thinking 'bout going and drinking in a tavern with a clean-shaven man
Just when I thought all souls had been bought by the devil here long ago
There did I see when I knelt to my knee I little texas flower grow
Black-eyed susan by the roadside blooming all yellow like sunshine red like wine
Flower like you in a desert this cruel my my you're a rare rare find
Well my newfound friend gave my heart a mend I sang her songs of my wayward ways
As day turned to night in the crystal moonlight I confirmed her unwavering gaze
As the days unraveled I stayed in the gravel and susan kept her eye on me
With my eye on her I felt my heart all astir with the joy of camaraderie
Black-eyed susan by the roadside blooming all yellow like sunshine red like wine
Flower like you in a desert this cruel my my you're a rare rare find
Got me to thinking 'bout going and drinking in a tavern with a clean-shaven man
Just when I thought all souls had been bought by the devil here long ago
There did I see when I knelt to my knee I little texas flower grow
Black-eyed susan by the roadside blooming all yellow like sunshine red like wine
Flower like you in a desert this cruel my my you're a rare rare find
Well my newfound friend gave my heart a mend I sang her songs of my wayward ways
As day turned to night in the crystal moonlight I confirmed her unwavering gaze
As the days unraveled I stayed in the gravel and susan kept her eye on me
With my eye on her I felt my heart all astir with the joy of camaraderie
Black-eyed susan by the roadside blooming all yellow like sunshine red like wine
Flower like you in a desert this cruel my my you're a rare rare find
Lyrics submitted by Loveisbrief
Black-Eyed Susan Lyrics as written by Ernie Gammage
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I basically think that this song is about finding beauty in unlikely places. "Flower like you in a desert this cruel my my you're a rare rare find" It's really just one of her more light-hearted songs. Makes me feel pleasant. I adore Laura and her amazing use of imagery.