"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.
Young Man,
Please take the stands,
Don't still your tongue,
For those you talk to try to sell you out.
Young Man,
Please understand,
On heads of martyrs rests a message.
You're the plank of wood in the plaintiff's eye,
Another kerosene depiction of the price
Paid to burn a fool and raise empires, boy,
On heads of martyrs rests a message.
So please, address the crowd,
It seems that no one now is leaving here until
Every stone has had its say.
(As coats drop,
Accusers stalk,
and every stone meets its mark.)
Yet don't recant, we can,t recant;
Through death we gain an audience
Of open ears and open eyes,
For nothing speaks as loud, lay down your life.
You will yet be made
A soldier's souls of saints,
Rise up and be the same,
For to lose your life is gain.
So please address the crowded streets
From every stage that turns into an urn
For every heretic that's burned.
Rise up and lay down your life.
Young Man,
Please take the stands,
Don't still your tongue,
For those you talk to try to sell you out.
With eyes set like cameras,
and knives held behind their backs
They're watching,
They're watching you.
Please take the stands,
Don't still your tongue,
For those you talk to try to sell you out.
Young Man,
Please understand,
On heads of martyrs rests a message.
You're the plank of wood in the plaintiff's eye,
Another kerosene depiction of the price
Paid to burn a fool and raise empires, boy,
On heads of martyrs rests a message.
So please, address the crowd,
It seems that no one now is leaving here until
Every stone has had its say.
(As coats drop,
Accusers stalk,
and every stone meets its mark.)
Yet don't recant, we can,t recant;
Through death we gain an audience
Of open ears and open eyes,
For nothing speaks as loud, lay down your life.
You will yet be made
A soldier's souls of saints,
Rise up and be the same,
For to lose your life is gain.
So please address the crowded streets
From every stage that turns into an urn
For every heretic that's burned.
Rise up and lay down your life.
Young Man,
Please take the stands,
Don't still your tongue,
For those you talk to try to sell you out.
With eyes set like cameras,
and knives held behind their backs
They're watching,
They're watching you.
Lyrics submitted by D0PPL3GANG3R
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