"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.
(Oh my God, I can see into the future!)
Oh, I've been counting on this countdown, countdown
Only minutes till sundown, sundown
Do I trust the team in front of me?
Oh, can, can I stop and catch my breath, my breath?
Will this mission bring my death, my death?
Oh, can I run and catch my enemy?
Oh, I feel something waiting for me
Every time I start to breathe
Check my pulse
My vision's dimming
Catch my soul before it leaves
Lethal weapons, we're flaunting lethal weapons
(But I can't seem to hit my mark)
In the future, we're dancing in the future
(Why can't he seem to hit his mark?)
It's been so long since he's had a break, yeah
He's in the cave and he can't escape, yeah
The events I see will cause a tragedy
Oh, I, I needed you to trust me, trust me
But you think that I'm crazy, crazy
But there's just some things that you can't know
And I, I'm stopping crime with a new face, new face
Got the secrets in the briefcase, briefcase
We got a mystery
It can't get out
When I opened my eyes
I knew it was a dream
The future's not what it seems
Lethal weapons, we're flaunting lethal weapons
(But I can't seem to hit my mark)
In the future, we're dancing in the future
(Why can't he seem to hit his mark?)
It's been so long since he's had a break, yeah
He's in the cave and he can't escape, yeah
I'm just a man who can't be stopped
Baby, that's me
People say that there is no way out
(What's in the briefcase?)
Hold your breath
Keep the words in your mouth
(What's in the briefcase?)
Don't let the secrets out
They'll set you free
Lethal weapons, we're flaunting lethal weapons
(But I can't seem to hit my mark)
In the future, we're dancing in the future
(Why can't he seem to hit his mark?) (x2)
In the future, we're dancing in the future
Oh, I've been counting on this countdown, countdown
Only minutes till sundown, sundown
Do I trust the team in front of me?
Oh, can, can I stop and catch my breath, my breath?
Will this mission bring my death, my death?
Oh, can I run and catch my enemy?
Oh, I feel something waiting for me
Every time I start to breathe
Check my pulse
My vision's dimming
Catch my soul before it leaves
Lethal weapons, we're flaunting lethal weapons
(But I can't seem to hit my mark)
In the future, we're dancing in the future
(Why can't he seem to hit his mark?)
It's been so long since he's had a break, yeah
He's in the cave and he can't escape, yeah
The events I see will cause a tragedy
Oh, I, I needed you to trust me, trust me
But you think that I'm crazy, crazy
But there's just some things that you can't know
And I, I'm stopping crime with a new face, new face
Got the secrets in the briefcase, briefcase
We got a mystery
It can't get out
When I opened my eyes
I knew it was a dream
The future's not what it seems
Lethal weapons, we're flaunting lethal weapons
(But I can't seem to hit my mark)
In the future, we're dancing in the future
(Why can't he seem to hit his mark?)
It's been so long since he's had a break, yeah
He's in the cave and he can't escape, yeah
I'm just a man who can't be stopped
Baby, that's me
People say that there is no way out
(What's in the briefcase?)
Hold your breath
Keep the words in your mouth
(What's in the briefcase?)
Don't let the secrets out
They'll set you free
Lethal weapons, we're flaunting lethal weapons
(But I can't seem to hit my mark)
In the future, we're dancing in the future
(Why can't he seem to hit his mark?) (x2)
In the future, we're dancing in the future
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Blue
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American Town
Ed Sheeran
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Bear with my interpretation...i think its kinda self explanitary... I think it must be that they can see how we are going to end. dancing at death... "Check my pulse My vision's dimming Catch my soul before it leaves" they know this is what the future is bringing.
i think it's about dancing in the future. i never really look into powerspace's lyrics, and i'm sorry, but it's because most of their lyrics are easy surface meaning or just plain shallow. ;D but i do love the beeeeats.
i just love the way 'why can't he seem to hit his mark' and 'but i can't seem to hit my mark' is sang!