"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.
Now in sailor's clothes Granuaile did go
A bold sea captain from top to toe
Her clans and children were the greatest care
Of Grace O'Malley, of Grace O'Malley
Who never did despair
Her trade was maintainence by land and sea
Two hundred loyal men were her army
No other captain was as skilled or brave
As Grace O'Malley, as Grace O'Malley
Who ruled the stormy wave
Now they had not sailed far from Clew Bay
When she spied a vessel bound for Galway
"Those are sea merchants," Grania did cry
"And Granuaile, and Granuaile
Will stop that ship or die"
She stopped that ship, and they took its store
She returned to Old Erin's shore
With Spanish brandy she walked along
Did Granuaile, did Granuaile
Who sweetly sang a song
Now Queen Elizabeth did once suggest
That she would name Grace a countess
"Oh no," says Grace, "That would never do
For Grace O'Malley, for Grace O'Malley
Is as great a queen as you"
The Queen of Connaught by land and sea
Her strength commanded fierce loyalty
Her wealth provided for many's the clans
Of Grace O'Malley, of Grace O'Malley
Seawoman of Ireland
A bold sea captain from top to toe
Her clans and children were the greatest care
Of Grace O'Malley, of Grace O'Malley
Who never did despair
Her trade was maintainence by land and sea
Two hundred loyal men were her army
No other captain was as skilled or brave
As Grace O'Malley, as Grace O'Malley
Who ruled the stormy wave
Now they had not sailed far from Clew Bay
When she spied a vessel bound for Galway
"Those are sea merchants," Grania did cry
"And Granuaile, and Granuaile
Will stop that ship or die"
She stopped that ship, and they took its store
She returned to Old Erin's shore
With Spanish brandy she walked along
Did Granuaile, did Granuaile
Who sweetly sang a song
Now Queen Elizabeth did once suggest
That she would name Grace a countess
"Oh no," says Grace, "That would never do
For Grace O'Malley, for Grace O'Malley
Is as great a queen as you"
The Queen of Connaught by land and sea
Her strength commanded fierce loyalty
Her wealth provided for many's the clans
Of Grace O'Malley, of Grace O'Malley
Seawoman of Ireland
Lyrics submitted by juliecaesar
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