"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.
You're at home, I'm away
And if all I can say
Is that this boy is still the same
It's the man inside that's changed
Front of the line but still behind
Seems like I'm trying way too hard
And like I haven't tried at all
Hard as stone but feeling all the weight
Feeling all the weight that's crushing me
When you come around
You're like a little slice of heaven when I'm coming down
Lifting me up above the clouds
I'll sleep tonight but the war's far from over
Tomorrow is no guarantee
If I don't return from this life of a soldier
Don't you be crying for me.
Throw this all away
Nothing comes for free at least that's what they say
If I had the chance I'd do it all again
If I had the chance I'd do it all again
Racing against the clock trying to relieve the pressure
Pushing you away so we can be together
Carry me today I'll carry you forever
Let's take a chance and we'll see if this won't last
Hard as a stone but feeling all the weight
Feeling all the weight that's crushing me
When you come around
You're like a little slice of heaven when I'm coming down
Lifting me up above the clouds.
I'll sleep tonight but the war's far from over
Tomorrow is no guarantee
If I don't return from this life of a soldier
Don't you be crying for me.
There's a car pulling up and the man who's inside
Takes a deep breath as he straightens his tie
It's nothing new cause he's done this before
She knew it as soon as he knocked on the door
Please someone please tell me I must be dreaming
What will I do oh, I just can't believe it
Taken away, oh he's
Taken away
Someone take me away
Someone take me away.
I'll sleep tonight but the war's far from over
Tomorrow is no guarantee
If I don't return from this life of a soldier
Don't you be crying for me.
Nothing comes for free at least that's what the say
If I had the chance I'd do it all again
And if all I can say
Is that this boy is still the same
It's the man inside that's changed
Front of the line but still behind
Seems like I'm trying way too hard
And like I haven't tried at all
Hard as stone but feeling all the weight
Feeling all the weight that's crushing me
When you come around
You're like a little slice of heaven when I'm coming down
Lifting me up above the clouds
I'll sleep tonight but the war's far from over
Tomorrow is no guarantee
If I don't return from this life of a soldier
Don't you be crying for me.
Throw this all away
Nothing comes for free at least that's what they say
If I had the chance I'd do it all again
If I had the chance I'd do it all again
Racing against the clock trying to relieve the pressure
Pushing you away so we can be together
Carry me today I'll carry you forever
Let's take a chance and we'll see if this won't last
Hard as a stone but feeling all the weight
Feeling all the weight that's crushing me
When you come around
You're like a little slice of heaven when I'm coming down
Lifting me up above the clouds.
I'll sleep tonight but the war's far from over
Tomorrow is no guarantee
If I don't return from this life of a soldier
Don't you be crying for me.
There's a car pulling up and the man who's inside
Takes a deep breath as he straightens his tie
It's nothing new cause he's done this before
She knew it as soon as he knocked on the door
Please someone please tell me I must be dreaming
What will I do oh, I just can't believe it
Taken away, oh he's
Taken away
Someone take me away
Someone take me away.
I'll sleep tonight but the war's far from over
Tomorrow is no guarantee
If I don't return from this life of a soldier
Don't you be crying for me.
Nothing comes for free at least that's what the say
If I had the chance I'd do it all again
Lyrics submitted by Bloc182
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Great version of a great song,
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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this song has an obvious meaning someone has gone to war and a man comes to the door to tell his girlfriend/wife/whatever (lmfao) that he's dead... so yeah it's also an amazing song ♥