"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.
They hung him of a cross
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me
One day when I lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me
They whooped him up the hill
They whooped him up the hill
They whooped him up the hill for me
One day when I lost
They hung him on a cross
They whooped him up the hill for me
He never said among them would
They never said among them would
They never said among them would for me
One day when I lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me
They hurt him in the side
They bit him in the side
They bit him in the side for me
One day when I lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me
They hung his head and died
They hung his head and died
He hung his head and died for me
One day when I lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me
One day when I lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me
They whooped him up the hill
They whooped him up the hill
They whooped him up the hill for me
One day when I lost
They hung him on a cross
They whooped him up the hill for me
He never said among them would
They never said among them would
They never said among them would for me
One day when I lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me
They hurt him in the side
They bit him in the side
They bit him in the side for me
One day when I lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me
They hung his head and died
They hung his head and died
He hung his head and died for me
One day when I lost
They hung him on a cross
They hung him on a cross for me
Lyrics submitted by Rut
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Fast Car
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Kurt Cobain was Christian.. He just strayed away from it cause fame and fortune does that
I just love it how little teenagers think they're Nirvana experts when really they were in diapers when they were at their peak.
Also may I add that nobody even knew who he was when he killed himself yes, it was a suicide cause he tried it once in Europe.. The real Nirvana fans knew who he was and Nirvana was all ready broken up at the time of his death.
Funny how death sells albums and creates a fanbase
If it makes you feel any better, many of our grandparents were in diapers when Leadbelly was singing and he people are still commenting on his music.
I agree with you, TBBlues. You can't base a person's knowledge on a particular subject on their age or generation. That's just pig-headed ignorant. If that were the case, historians would be pointless, and we would know nothing about our heritage.<br /> <br /> Secondly, this is a Lead Belly thread, not a Nirvana one.
I like the fact that people are arguing about Nirvana when it's a LeadBelly song...and a song meanings forum...
Nirvana covered this song. I had no idea it was a cover. Nirvana also covered Where Did you Sleep Last Night, which made me want to look up Leadbelly songs. SO it surprised me to see that this song was also a Leadbelly song and think it's cool that a more modern artist would apreciate an older muician such as Leadbelly and keep the music going. Really cool.
I totaly agree with you Corpsed. That is how I discovered Leadbelly 2 years ago. I am a big Nirvana fan. I also love folk, bluegrass, and some country(Johnny Cash). I know grunge and these favorites of mine are a strange combination, but somehow Kurt Cobain found it an influence as well. I have found that I love Leadbelly's music as well as his interesting life. He has had an influence on countless artists. Finally me and my Grandpa have something we can listen to together.
RealMusicIsDead, I'm not saying Kurt didn't kill himself, but Courtney Love was the only person who claimed the overdose incident was a suicide attempt, so that doesn't really prove anything.
As for the song, Jesus? Awesome song, haven't been able to find Leadbelly's version though.
why cant i find leadbelly's version of this song!?!
hey everyone! This song is TOTALLY about jesus (I think) oh and I think "He never said among them would" is wrong. I think it's "He never said a MUMBLIN' WORD" peace out