"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.
Say whatever you have to say, I'll stand by you.
Do whatever you have to do, to get it out and not become a reactionary
To hurt the ones you love you know you never meant to but you do
Oh yeah you do
Be whoever you have to be, I won't judge you
Sing whatever you have to sing to get it out and not become a recluse
about your house, come out
I know you never meant to but you do
Oh but you do
Still I need your sway, because you always pay for it
And I, and I need your soul because you're always soulful
And I and I need your heart, because you're always in the right places
And take whatever you have to take, you know I love ya
Come however you have to come, and get it out and get it out
Take it out on me, take it out on me
I'll give it you all, I give it you all,I give it
I give you all I give it you all, yes I will give it you all
'Cause I need your sway, because you always pay for it
And I, and I need your soul because you're always soulful
And I and I need your heart, because you're always in the right places
Oh yes I will, I will give it you all
Still I need your sway, because you always pay for it
And I, and I need your soul because you're always soulful
And I and I need that heart, because you're always in the right places.
Do whatever you have to do, to get it out and not become a reactionary
To hurt the ones you love you know you never meant to but you do
Oh yeah you do
Be whoever you have to be, I won't judge you
Sing whatever you have to sing to get it out and not become a recluse
about your house, come out
I know you never meant to but you do
Oh but you do
Still I need your sway, because you always pay for it
And I, and I need your soul because you're always soulful
And I and I need your heart, because you're always in the right places
And take whatever you have to take, you know I love ya
Come however you have to come, and get it out and get it out
Take it out on me, take it out on me
I'll give it you all, I give it you all,I give it
I give you all I give it you all, yes I will give it you all
'Cause I need your sway, because you always pay for it
And I, and I need your soul because you're always soulful
And I and I need your heart, because you're always in the right places
Oh yes I will, I will give it you all
Still I need your sway, because you always pay for it
And I, and I need your soul because you're always soulful
And I and I need that heart, because you're always in the right places.
Lyrics submitted by FarrarLikesMusic
Sway Lyrics as written by Luke Pritchard
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Wow you guys being devoted fans have some really indepth interpretations about this song.. ive heard it a few times but tonight it really was the loudest to me. Personally i think the notion of friendship is the key message. To me, the singer is telling their friend, who does appear to be struggling some issue or problem, that they can say whatever they have to say and be whoever they have to be and do whatever they have to do to express themselves and they may hurt others in the process but its ok. Then to me the chorus Is the big message, to me it says, whatever you decide to do (eg, break away, leave, kill urself, whatever) u just need you to know that I need you and these are the things i need FROM you cos thats what you do for me, even if you can't see it. (to me i sorta think of my friend Kristi, she can become so reclusive and standoffish sometimes, acting like she really doesnt care about us or herself, She seems to be struggling with Bipolarish bouts of highs and lows, and sometimes feels like its not worth doing anything) Im always telling her how i love her and need her around and love having her around. OR in other words. "i need your soul cos ur always soulful and ineed your heart cos ur always in the right places) Like the saying, "his/her heart is always in the right place even if it appears as if the person is doing something weird" I hope you guys get what i mean sorry about the Essay!