"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 heard a battle raging on the other side of the wall.
I buried my head in a pillow and tried to ignore it all.
Every night when I hear you, I dream of breaking down your door.
An avenging knight in shining armour, to rescue you from it all.
From this family business, family business.
How long does it stay, family business?
It's nobody's business, this family business,
But tell me how long it remains family business?
When I see you at the supermarket, sunglasses in the shade,
Averting your eyes from those staring questions, how were those bruises made?
The children clutch tight to your legs; they've got so much they want to say,
But daddy's sitting home, drunk again, so they bite their lips and pray,
'cause daddy don't like people poking in his private affairs,
And if anyone asks from the social, well, you tripped and fell down the stairs.
It's family business, keep it in the family business.
Can you tell me how long it remains family business?
It's nobody's business, this family business,
But tell me how long it should stay family business?
She's waiting at the bus stop, at the bottom of the hill;
She know's she'll never catch it, she knows she never will.
The kids are all she lives for; she's got nothing left to lose,
Nowhere to escape to, but she knows she's got to move.
'Cause when daddy tucks the kids in, it's taking longer every night.
It's family business, keep it in the family business,
Can you tell me how long it reamins family business?
It's nobody's business, this family business,
But tell me how long it should stay family business?
So I become an accessory, and I don't have an alibi
To the victim on my doorstep; the only way I can justify.
It's family business, family business,
How long do we keep it family business?
I buried my head in a pillow and tried to ignore it all.
Every night when I hear you, I dream of breaking down your door.
An avenging knight in shining armour, to rescue you from it all.
From this family business, family business.
How long does it stay, family business?
It's nobody's business, this family business,
But tell me how long it remains family business?
When I see you at the supermarket, sunglasses in the shade,
Averting your eyes from those staring questions, how were those bruises made?
The children clutch tight to your legs; they've got so much they want to say,
But daddy's sitting home, drunk again, so they bite their lips and pray,
'cause daddy don't like people poking in his private affairs,
And if anyone asks from the social, well, you tripped and fell down the stairs.
It's family business, keep it in the family business.
Can you tell me how long it remains family business?
It's nobody's business, this family business,
But tell me how long it should stay family business?
She's waiting at the bus stop, at the bottom of the hill;
She know's she'll never catch it, she knows she never will.
The kids are all she lives for; she's got nothing left to lose,
Nowhere to escape to, but she knows she's got to move.
'Cause when daddy tucks the kids in, it's taking longer every night.
It's family business, keep it in the family business,
Can you tell me how long it reamins family business?
It's nobody's business, this family business,
But tell me how long it should stay family business?
So I become an accessory, and I don't have an alibi
To the victim on my doorstep; the only way I can justify.
It's family business, family business,
How long do we keep it family business?
Lyrics submitted by BitterBosh
Family Business Lyrics as written by Hal Lindes Derek William Dick
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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A pretty straight forward tale of being the neighbor who knows a woman/children are in an abusive situation and choosing not to get involved. There is guilt along side the decision. I have always liked to think that at some point when the song is over, the neighbor offers some type of help. I had a neighbor in a similar situation (abuse) and when she finally did flee, she took time to thank me. I had not done much, simply said to her one day over morning coffee that when she was ready to go, I would do whatever I could to help. I never demanded details or pushed her; we both knew I could hear the noises across the apartment hallway. When she thanked me months after that comment was made, she said hearing that alone gave her enough strength to prepare her exit.