"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.
As I was walking in the big black woods
Hey ho, the big black woods
I met the evil devil and he offered me a ride
Hey ho, he offered me a ride
He said: "you look tired, let me carry you a while"
Hey ho on the devil's back
There's an evil, little bastard hiding in his eye
Hey ho, of fire, flames and fry
Lord, I'm only human
I'm tired and I wanna go home
Let me ride on the devil's back
But save my soul
Save my soul
The rain poured down from the grey sky above
Hey ho, the rain pissed down
But the devil he went hasty
And steady running fast
Hey ho, oh this could never last
And then he saw my home through
The branches and the leaves
Hey ho, lay hidden by the trees
Inside my darling loved one
And children oh so sweet
Hey ho, my children oh so sweet
Lord knows you're only human
You were tired and you wanted to go home
Pay me the soul of your one true love
Or you will never see your children again
Oh Lord knows you're only human
You were tired and you wanted to go home
Pay me the soul of your one true love
Or you will never see your children again
Save my soul!
Hey ho, the big black woods
I met the evil devil and he offered me a ride
Hey ho, he offered me a ride
He said: "you look tired, let me carry you a while"
Hey ho on the devil's back
There's an evil, little bastard hiding in his eye
Hey ho, of fire, flames and fry
Lord, I'm only human
I'm tired and I wanna go home
Let me ride on the devil's back
But save my soul
Save my soul
The rain poured down from the grey sky above
Hey ho, the rain pissed down
But the devil he went hasty
And steady running fast
Hey ho, oh this could never last
And then he saw my home through
The branches and the leaves
Hey ho, lay hidden by the trees
Inside my darling loved one
And children oh so sweet
Hey ho, my children oh so sweet
Lord knows you're only human
You were tired and you wanted to go home
Pay me the soul of your one true love
Or you will never see your children again
Oh Lord knows you're only human
You were tired and you wanted to go home
Pay me the soul of your one true love
Or you will never see your children again
Save my soul!
Lyrics submitted by Breakingbenjaminfan
Hey Ho on the Devil's Back Lyrics as written by Marianne Sveen Anne Bergheim
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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