"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.
One got addicted and the other ran away
Some settled down a familiar place
One lets go of the wheel
While the other one steers
One got the money that the other put away
Some held their ground and the others couldn't stay
A few just followed their dreams
while the others stood clear
After all these years
After all these years
One found religion and the other lost faith
One sold something that he never could replace
Both looked back to see if the coast was clear
One hits the bottle 'till his problems go away
The other never made it home from school that day
Sometimes I wish I could just disappear
After all these years
After all these years
It feels like some days that the sun never shines
I can't decipher all these riddles and rhymes
They're going down in flames, they're burning alive
I just can't take this anymore
One looked back at the past and I'm finally here
After all these years
One got addicted and the other ran away
Some held around while the others couldn't stay
One lets go of the wheel while the other one steers (After all these years)
One found religion and the other lost faith
One sold something that he never could replace (After all these years)
Both looked back to see if the coast was clear
Some settled down a familiar place
One lets go of the wheel
While the other one steers
One got the money that the other put away
Some held their ground and the others couldn't stay
A few just followed their dreams
while the others stood clear
After all these years
After all these years
One found religion and the other lost faith
One sold something that he never could replace
Both looked back to see if the coast was clear
One hits the bottle 'till his problems go away
The other never made it home from school that day
Sometimes I wish I could just disappear
After all these years
After all these years
It feels like some days that the sun never shines
I can't decipher all these riddles and rhymes
They're going down in flames, they're burning alive
I just can't take this anymore
One looked back at the past and I'm finally here
After all these years
One got addicted and the other ran away
Some held around while the others couldn't stay
One lets go of the wheel while the other one steers (After all these years)
One found religion and the other lost faith
One sold something that he never could replace (After all these years)
Both looked back to see if the coast was clear
Lyrics submitted by Sabre Runner
All These Years Lyrics as written by Marshall N Altman Unknown Co-writer
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I was going to say like Raxx57 said.. I think its about a group of friends from school and what all happened to them. This is by far the most best song ever!