"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.
They're driving long nails into coffins
You've been having sleepless nights
You've gone as quiet as a church mouse
And checking on your rights
The boss has hung you out to dry
And it looks as though
They'll punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go
You've been talking to a lawyer
Are you going to pretend
That you and your employer
Are still the best of friends?
Somebody's going to take the fall
There's your quid pro quo
They'll punish the monkey
Punish the monkey, yeah
They'll punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go
Here comes a policeman
He won't be sidetracked
He's asking about a smoking gun
He's after the facts
It's a quiet life from here on in
You've dropped your poison cup
The telephone is ringing
But you're not picking up
Time's up, Sir Lord Flunkey
And everybody knows
They'll punish the monkey (punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey, yeah (punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go
Ooh, punish the monkey (punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey, yeah (punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go
Punish the monkey
Punish the monkey
Punish the monkey
Yeah, they'll punish the monkey
You've been having sleepless nights
You've gone as quiet as a church mouse
And checking on your rights
The boss has hung you out to dry
And it looks as though
They'll punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go
You've been talking to a lawyer
Are you going to pretend
That you and your employer
Are still the best of friends?
Somebody's going to take the fall
There's your quid pro quo
They'll punish the monkey
Punish the monkey, yeah
They'll punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go
Here comes a policeman
He won't be sidetracked
He's asking about a smoking gun
He's after the facts
It's a quiet life from here on in
You've dropped your poison cup
The telephone is ringing
But you're not picking up
Time's up, Sir Lord Flunkey
And everybody knows
They'll punish the monkey (punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey, yeah (punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go
Ooh, punish the monkey (punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey, yeah (punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go
Punish the monkey
Punish the monkey
Punish the monkey
Yeah, they'll punish the monkey
Lyrics submitted by bars.of.a.rhyme
Punish The Monkey Lyrics as written by Mark Knopfler
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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I would think the song refers to Scooter Libby, the fall guy in the George W Bush administration's leakage of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Libby was the only member of the adminstration who was convicted of perjury among other things for his role in the leak and subsequently pardoned by President Bush.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter_Libby