"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.
Ladies and gentlemen
Boys and ghouls!
Step right up
Behind this curtain lies a ghastly concoction of
Delight, Horror, Fantasy and terror
Your every wish is our command!
Your every whimsical desire brought to life
But I'm warning you
There's always a price
Welcome to the greatest show unearthed
The dark carnival is in town
You better be ready
Just follow the parade
Of dancing skeletons
Full of ghoulish delights
Around every corner
Don't tell your parents you're here
They will soon be mourners
Welcome to the lower birth
The greatest show unearthed
We appear without a sound
The darkest show around
We will leave you in a daze
Madness, murder, dismay
We will disappear at night
With blood on the concrete
I will be your ticket taker
Come inside, it's a dream
Enter the fun house of mirrors
No one can hear you scream
We can supply anything
That your heart desires
But the consequences
Will surely be dire
Welcome to the lower birth
The greatest show unearthed
We appear without a sound
The darkest show around
We will leave you in a daze
Madness, murder, dismay
We will disappear at night
With blood on the concrete
Come inside for the ride
Your deepest, darkest fears
The best night of your life
You're never leaving here
The unknown
The unseen
Is what you're gonna find
Witness this
Witness that
Until you lose your mind
Welcome to the lower birth
The greatest show unearthed
We appear without a sound
The darkest show around
We will leave you in a daze
Madness, murder, dismay
We will disappear at night
With blood on the concrete
Boys and ghouls!
Step right up
Behind this curtain lies a ghastly concoction of
Delight, Horror, Fantasy and terror
Your every wish is our command!
Your every whimsical desire brought to life
But I'm warning you
There's always a price
Welcome to the greatest show unearthed
The dark carnival is in town
You better be ready
Just follow the parade
Of dancing skeletons
Full of ghoulish delights
Around every corner
Don't tell your parents you're here
They will soon be mourners
Welcome to the lower birth
The greatest show unearthed
We appear without a sound
The darkest show around
We will leave you in a daze
Madness, murder, dismay
We will disappear at night
With blood on the concrete
I will be your ticket taker
Come inside, it's a dream
Enter the fun house of mirrors
No one can hear you scream
We can supply anything
That your heart desires
But the consequences
Will surely be dire
Welcome to the lower birth
The greatest show unearthed
We appear without a sound
The darkest show around
We will leave you in a daze
Madness, murder, dismay
We will disappear at night
With blood on the concrete
Come inside for the ride
Your deepest, darkest fears
The best night of your life
You're never leaving here
The unknown
The unseen
Is what you're gonna find
Witness this
Witness that
Until you lose your mind
Welcome to the lower birth
The greatest show unearthed
We appear without a sound
The darkest show around
We will leave you in a daze
Madness, murder, dismay
We will disappear at night
With blood on the concrete
Lyrics submitted by horrorcunt
The Greatest Show Unearthed Lyrics as written by .
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., KILLPHONIC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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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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Everytime I hear this song, it reminds me of a Haunted House :D