"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.
Maybe you'll see me on the evening news
Maybe you'll see me with a bag over my head
If that's the case then I've met my doom
If that's the case then my comrades are dead
And I don't hate my enemy
I hate the cloud he's brought over my land
There's no virtue in killing a man
Neither is there virtue in being afraid to stand
But I saw the black coats forming lines
They hit our beaches running
We're on our knees but not to pray
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
You can't change the course of fates sealed long ago
But hope is not lost, code name Corbeau
We trade their secrets at cost for our lives
The panzer is strong, the raven is wise
I turn my ears to the BBC
I can hear them, they can't hear me
I long to forget all the horrors I've seen
I'll live like a ghost, I'll die with the free
Traitors and turncoats turned aside
Traitors' loose lips sink
They're on their knees but just to beg
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
Inside the fuselage, valiant young soldiers singing songs
Fear not my downcast brothers we are the strong arm of the law
By land and air and sea on wings of destiny we ride
Sing while the city decays, sing while we go up in flames
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
I'm on your side until my body drains of blood
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
I'm on your side until my body drains of blood
Maybe you'll see me with a bag over my head
If that's the case then I've met my doom
If that's the case then my comrades are dead
And I don't hate my enemy
I hate the cloud he's brought over my land
There's no virtue in killing a man
Neither is there virtue in being afraid to stand
But I saw the black coats forming lines
They hit our beaches running
We're on our knees but not to pray
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
You can't change the course of fates sealed long ago
But hope is not lost, code name Corbeau
We trade their secrets at cost for our lives
The panzer is strong, the raven is wise
I turn my ears to the BBC
I can hear them, they can't hear me
I long to forget all the horrors I've seen
I'll live like a ghost, I'll die with the free
Traitors and turncoats turned aside
Traitors' loose lips sink
They're on their knees but just to beg
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
Inside the fuselage, valiant young soldiers singing songs
Fear not my downcast brothers we are the strong arm of the law
By land and air and sea on wings of destiny we ride
Sing while the city decays, sing while we go up in flames
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
I'm on your side until my body drains of blood
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
I'm on your side until my body drains of blood
Lyrics submitted by LivingFlame
Code Name: Raven Lyrics as written by Collin Rigsby Aaron James Babcock
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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...I can't think of what real life application this can take. any ideas?