"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.
You fire it up!
You want to fire it up?
So I guess you know...
I guess you feel it...
I can't stand your chat
yes I had a bit of food caught in my teeth
(you're getting better)
Change the subject before I take back what I think
(you're getting better)
I'm checking left, I'm checking right
attempt to try to catch an eye
try to kill some time until I think your getting better
Got say it when you're steaming you light up my night
Get turning up the heater now
Fixing something in your mix it really perks you right up
turning up the heater now
What's funny is I guess that you know...
You fire it up,
walked right up and you talked non-stop
I guess you feel it fighting its way out
just a little bit of personality
(you're getting better)
Joking your way back into my good books,
stumbling and smiling
(you're getting better, I think you might be getting better)
My turn to pay, your turn to pay
No need to try to catch an eye
nor try to kill some time cos
you're getting better, I think you might be getting better
Got say it when you're steaming you light up my night
Get turning up the heater now
Fixing something in your mix it really perks you right up
turning up the heater now
Can't only be pure chemistry that keeps us tight
turning up the heater now
What's funny is I guess that you know
Avoiding me until you're bubbling, you know
Used up all of your lines
already nothing to talk about no
I define the bind that's cut or holds
What's funny is I guess you always really knew
What's funny is I reckon it don't bother you
Not funny that by day we wont see it improve
Got say it when you're steaming you light up my night
Get turning up the heater now
Fixing something in your mix it really perks you right up
turning up the heater now
Can't only be pure chemistry that keeps us tight
turning up the heater you know
You want to fire it up?
So I guess you know...
I guess you feel it...
I can't stand your chat
yes I had a bit of food caught in my teeth
(you're getting better)
Change the subject before I take back what I think
(you're getting better)
I'm checking left, I'm checking right
attempt to try to catch an eye
try to kill some time until I think your getting better
Got say it when you're steaming you light up my night
Get turning up the heater now
Fixing something in your mix it really perks you right up
turning up the heater now
What's funny is I guess that you know...
You fire it up,
walked right up and you talked non-stop
I guess you feel it fighting its way out
just a little bit of personality
(you're getting better)
Joking your way back into my good books,
stumbling and smiling
(you're getting better, I think you might be getting better)
My turn to pay, your turn to pay
No need to try to catch an eye
nor try to kill some time cos
you're getting better, I think you might be getting better
Got say it when you're steaming you light up my night
Get turning up the heater now
Fixing something in your mix it really perks you right up
turning up the heater now
Can't only be pure chemistry that keeps us tight
turning up the heater now
What's funny is I guess that you know
Avoiding me until you're bubbling, you know
Used up all of your lines
already nothing to talk about no
I define the bind that's cut or holds
What's funny is I guess you always really knew
What's funny is I reckon it don't bother you
Not funny that by day we wont see it improve
Got say it when you're steaming you light up my night
Get turning up the heater now
Fixing something in your mix it really perks you right up
turning up the heater now
Can't only be pure chemistry that keeps us tight
turning up the heater you know
Lyrics submitted by fleckyfletcha
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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