"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.
(Wide silent cars)
You said you know what�s right for them
(Antiques that aren�t too old collard greens)
(Dashing, dashing young and bold)
And when you lie
(Not too nostalgic)
You fail to know this line
And then you let them get away
(Trash them, lie down)
(Watch out, they're right)
When will you let me fall
(Save me tonight)
So much more pain
(You�re right)
(I�ve been lying)
Tonight it kept ? line
(About my underground lair)
No will make you mine
(Form a line straight into the pavement)
(As you were, as you were)
(Form a line straight into the pavement)
(As you were, as you were)
When you went away
(You wont testify)
(You, you wont testify)
Now who will show you this with you
(You can't by yourself, maybe)
Just like you told me
(? without your trust)
Just like you told me
(Without your trust)
It�s time to think of my different plan
(Report to the bridge)
The light�s they�re going out
(The captain is sick with the)
Get away with you
(Flu and needs medicine)
(You, you, you can't be saved, trust me)
When this goes to fall
(Trust me, I trust you)
Don�t go
Just fight it
(You've made mistakes)
Lights
(Form a line straight into the pavement)
Let go now
(As you were, as you were)
Of this life
(Form a line straight into the pavement)
Such snow these weeks
(As you were, as you were)
(You won't testify)
When you went away
(You, you won't testify)
Now who will show you this with you
(You can't by yourself, maybe)
Just like you told me
Just like you told me
(? without your trust)
(Without your trust)
I�m letting you take this from the start
There is just one condition in which you can�t decide
(I�m going to my secret lair)
(Underground)
(Drop, drop down, drop it)
(Drop, drop down, drop it)
One more of that screaming lie
(I�m going to my secret lair)
(Underground)
Who will give you hope
(Drop, drop down, drop it)
(Drop, drop down, drop it)
To poke your eyes
No you�re nothing special
(Wide silent cars)
And you said it was ? away
(Antiques that aren�t too old collard greens)
?
(Dashing, dashing young and bold)
And I won�t let you fall
(Dashing, dashing young and bold)
You deny? this with this love?
(Dashing, dashing young and bold)
You said you know what�s right for them
(Antiques that aren�t too old collard greens)
(Dashing, dashing young and bold)
And when you lie
(Not too nostalgic)
You fail to know this line
And then you let them get away
(Trash them, lie down)
(Watch out, they're right)
When will you let me fall
(Save me tonight)
So much more pain
(You�re right)
(I�ve been lying)
Tonight it kept ? line
(About my underground lair)
No will make you mine
(Form a line straight into the pavement)
(As you were, as you were)
(Form a line straight into the pavement)
(As you were, as you were)
When you went away
(You wont testify)
(You, you wont testify)
Now who will show you this with you
(You can't by yourself, maybe)
Just like you told me
(? without your trust)
Just like you told me
(Without your trust)
It�s time to think of my different plan
(Report to the bridge)
The light�s they�re going out
(The captain is sick with the)
Get away with you
(Flu and needs medicine)
(You, you, you can't be saved, trust me)
When this goes to fall
(Trust me, I trust you)
Don�t go
Just fight it
(You've made mistakes)
Lights
(Form a line straight into the pavement)
Let go now
(As you were, as you were)
Of this life
(Form a line straight into the pavement)
Such snow these weeks
(As you were, as you were)
(You won't testify)
When you went away
(You, you won't testify)
Now who will show you this with you
(You can't by yourself, maybe)
Just like you told me
Just like you told me
(? without your trust)
(Without your trust)
I�m letting you take this from the start
There is just one condition in which you can�t decide
(I�m going to my secret lair)
(Underground)
(Drop, drop down, drop it)
(Drop, drop down, drop it)
One more of that screaming lie
(I�m going to my secret lair)
(Underground)
Who will give you hope
(Drop, drop down, drop it)
(Drop, drop down, drop it)
To poke your eyes
No you�re nothing special
(Wide silent cars)
And you said it was ? away
(Antiques that aren�t too old collard greens)
?
(Dashing, dashing young and bold)
And I won�t let you fall
(Dashing, dashing young and bold)
You deny? this with this love?
(Dashing, dashing young and bold)
Lyrics submitted by DanceSeejDance
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
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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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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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Page
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This song was one of their first demos. It's out there if you look.