"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 feel so helpless now, my guitar is not around
And I'm strugglin' with the xylophone to make these feelin's sound
And I'm rememberin' you singin' and bringin' you to life
It's rainin' out the window and today it looks like night
You haven't written to me in a week I'm wonderin' why that is
Are you too nervous to be lovers-- friendships ruined with just one kiss
I watched you very closely I saw you look away
Your eyes are either gray or blue I'm never close enough to say
But your sweatshirt says it all with the hood over your face
I can't keep starin' at your mouth without wonderin' how it tastes
I'm with another boy (he's asleep, I'm wide awake )
And he tried to win my heart, but its taken time
I know the shape of your hands because I watch em when you talk
And I know the shape of your body cause I watch it when you walk
And I want to know it all but I'm giving you the lead
So go on, go on and take it, don't fake it, shake it
Don't second guess your feelin's you were right form the start
And I notice she's your lover, but she's nowhere near your heart
This city is for strangers, like the sky is for the stars
But I think its very dangerous if we do not take what's ours
And I'm winnin' you with words because I have no other way
I want to look into your face without your eyes turnin' away
Last night I watched you sing because a person has to try
And I walked home in the rain because a person can not lie
And I'm strugglin' with the xylophone to make these feelin's sound
And I'm rememberin' you singin' and bringin' you to life
It's rainin' out the window and today it looks like night
You haven't written to me in a week I'm wonderin' why that is
Are you too nervous to be lovers-- friendships ruined with just one kiss
I watched you very closely I saw you look away
Your eyes are either gray or blue I'm never close enough to say
But your sweatshirt says it all with the hood over your face
I can't keep starin' at your mouth without wonderin' how it tastes
I'm with another boy (he's asleep, I'm wide awake )
And he tried to win my heart, but its taken time
I know the shape of your hands because I watch em when you talk
And I know the shape of your body cause I watch it when you walk
And I want to know it all but I'm giving you the lead
So go on, go on and take it, don't fake it, shake it
Don't second guess your feelin's you were right form the start
And I notice she's your lover, but she's nowhere near your heart
This city is for strangers, like the sky is for the stars
But I think its very dangerous if we do not take what's ours
And I'm winnin' you with words because I have no other way
I want to look into your face without your eyes turnin' away
Last night I watched you sing because a person has to try
And I walked home in the rain because a person can not lie
Lyrics submitted by NotJustWords
Gray or Blue Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC
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Fast Car
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