"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.
Because it's safe at the bottom, this lake
We know what you're gonna do when you get there
Sit down and listen
And it's a cold hearted fool and on that shit we made money
Motives lost in a heap 'cause the dead don't, dead don't listen
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
I'm an apple dripping man
Just like the feet that tapped, "Take me home"
We'll be back when the stores are in order
The house isn't shaking
The king is elected from the love that grows it, love that grows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
I'm an apple dripping man
Just like the feet that tapped, "Take me home"
We built the mountains to stand up where he knows
All the sheep that showed don't care who knows it, care who knows it
But the sons are the giants built by the pharaohs
All the apples fed them sheep
We built the mountains to stand up where he knows
All the sheep that showed don't care who knows it, care who knows it
Care who knows it, care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
I'm an apple dripping man
Just like the feet that tapped, "Take me home"
We know what you're gonna do when you get there
Sit down and listen
And it's a cold hearted fool and on that shit we made money
Motives lost in a heap 'cause the dead don't, dead don't listen
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
I'm an apple dripping man
Just like the feet that tapped, "Take me home"
We'll be back when the stores are in order
The house isn't shaking
The king is elected from the love that grows it, love that grows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
I'm an apple dripping man
Just like the feet that tapped, "Take me home"
We built the mountains to stand up where he knows
All the sheep that showed don't care who knows it, care who knows it
But the sons are the giants built by the pharaohs
All the apples fed them sheep
We built the mountains to stand up where he knows
All the sheep that showed don't care who knows it, care who knows it
Care who knows it, care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in, shining
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
Wake up, wake up
Oh, that sunshine is shining in
Let's go, I don't care who knows it
I'm an apple dripping man
Just like the feet that tapped, "Take me home"
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portugal. the man's lyrics seem completely random at times, but there's a method to their madness--and a lot of their songs are very meaningful if you take the time to listen. I love them.