"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.
[Pilatus:] "Father is it possible to grant forgiveness for a sinful action to be committed?"
([Father:] "My son, you would have to question whether or not the said sin is necessary.")
[Pilatus:]
"(Absolutely...) to wash away indecency, re-write who we are.
Weeding out societies weakest in attempts to cure.
The disease which we are fed, forcefully down our throats.
I seek absolution for these sins unwritten.
Any who stand in my way, shall be subjected to torn ligaments and limbs ripped from their sockets.
For no pity shall be handed down to the feeble.
Human nature seals our fates by leading us down a path of destruction;
I have just merely sped up the process.
To wash away indecency, re-write who we are.
Weeding out societies weakest in attempts to cure.
The disease which we are fed, forcefully down our throats.
I seek absolution for these sins unwritten."
([Father:] "Son? Why are you explaining all this to me?")
[Pilatus:]
"Well I never had much use for religion.
I merely needed someone to listen.
Father witness (the) decline of decaying culture.
You've, sealed your fate, sealed your doom"
([Father:] "My son, you would have to question whether or not the said sin is necessary.")
[Pilatus:]
"(Absolutely...) to wash away indecency, re-write who we are.
Weeding out societies weakest in attempts to cure.
The disease which we are fed, forcefully down our throats.
I seek absolution for these sins unwritten.
Any who stand in my way, shall be subjected to torn ligaments and limbs ripped from their sockets.
For no pity shall be handed down to the feeble.
Human nature seals our fates by leading us down a path of destruction;
I have just merely sped up the process.
To wash away indecency, re-write who we are.
Weeding out societies weakest in attempts to cure.
The disease which we are fed, forcefully down our throats.
I seek absolution for these sins unwritten."
([Father:] "Son? Why are you explaining all this to me?")
[Pilatus:]
"Well I never had much use for religion.
I merely needed someone to listen.
Father witness (the) decline of decaying culture.
You've, sealed your fate, sealed your doom"
Lyrics submitted by Lanimilbus
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Fast Car
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cnt really see anything apart from the obvious in the song about cleansing of the gene pool
"Weeding out societies weakest in attempts to cure"
"I seek absolution for these sins unwritten" i see that has he feels that being weak and breeding with the weak to be a sin. but religion doesn't see it as a sin!
then explains to his "father" that it is his fault for the decline in quality within the human gene pool and tells him he has sealed his own fate and doom!
"Father witness (the) decline of decaying culture. You've, sealed your fate, sealed your doom"
whether the father within this song is GOD i do not know but it would be quite fitting! ( im not a follower of religion)