"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.
Toki wa kumo o tsuku yoo na
nami o tate osou yo
Kesarete yomichi o hau
koe tachi ni kotaete
Wasure wa shinai Kimi no koto wa
Kanawanu michi ni Nao hitori tachi
Utareta tori no yoo na
Yuugasa de ame ni tae
Ienai chijoo no chi ni arawarete nemuru
Hoshi yo soozetsu ni
Monogatare Kono yoru o
Wasure wa shinai Kimi no koto wa
Kogoete yoru o Tada hitori iki
Kienai koe yo ima
Yomigaere Chikara e to
Hai Yai Forces Hai Yai Forces (x4)
Kike yo Kaze sae naki
Sobietatsu Kage no tô
Utarete yomichi o hau
kimi ni hi o tomose yo
Wasure wa shinai Kimi no koto wa
Kanawanu michi ni Nao hitori tachi
Yuke yo Jôzetsu no
kage yo kite Michibike
Hai Yai Forces Hai Yai Forces (x8)
nami o tate osou yo
Kesarete yomichi o hau
koe tachi ni kotaete
Wasure wa shinai Kimi no koto wa
Kanawanu michi ni Nao hitori tachi
Utareta tori no yoo na
Yuugasa de ame ni tae
Ienai chijoo no chi ni arawarete nemuru
Hoshi yo soozetsu ni
Monogatare Kono yoru o
Wasure wa shinai Kimi no koto wa
Kogoete yoru o Tada hitori iki
Kienai koe yo ima
Yomigaere Chikara e to
Hai Yai Forces Hai Yai Forces (x4)
Kike yo Kaze sae naki
Sobietatsu Kage no tô
Utarete yomichi o hau
kimi ni hi o tomose yo
Wasure wa shinai Kimi no koto wa
Kanawanu michi ni Nao hitori tachi
Yuke yo Jôzetsu no
kage yo kite Michibike
Hai Yai Forces Hai Yai Forces (x8)
Lyrics submitted by awakenpunk
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Like a build-up of clouds, the battle is joined in waves When it's over, we creep along the dark street, answering the voices
I don't forget about you It's an impossible path, yet I tread it alone
Like a defeated bird, we gracefully endure the rain
We sleep after washing in the blood of the unhealed ground Stars! Tell about the grandness of this night!
I don't forget about you When I'm all alone in the freezing night
The unceasing voices now have a renewed strength
Hai Yai Forces Hai Yai Forces
Listen! Even the wind cries at the soaring tower of shadow Being defeated, we creep along the dark street; I turn on the light for you.
I don't forget about you It's an impossible path, yet I tread it alone
Go away, loquacity! Shadow, come and be guided!