"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.
when you come again
tryst in the treetop
8 excuses for the mother hen
I tripped in the hall
it was a miracle stall
bought us time and we
filtered out the feelings again
we schemed at the built in bar
townie authority screaming we shouldn't go far
I copied the key
the way I mimic disease
leaving the locksmith barking,
and baying on his hands and his knees
bankrupt birdhouse the crow got the word out
we've seen this all before
and I am crouching a grown man slouching
thirty armed men at the door
the truth and the tooth came out
one in the paper and the other inside of his mouth
he left with a limp and a cut on his lip
hid the morning paper and never told his wife or his kids
now we're on our own
cutting coupons 10 dollars off
a crown and a thrown
discount royalty
high horse novelties
we'll pay full price cuz it's better
than being alone
let it wave
oh let it wave
let it wave
oh let it wave
tryst in the treetop
8 excuses for the mother hen
I tripped in the hall
it was a miracle stall
bought us time and we
filtered out the feelings again
we schemed at the built in bar
townie authority screaming we shouldn't go far
I copied the key
the way I mimic disease
leaving the locksmith barking,
and baying on his hands and his knees
bankrupt birdhouse the crow got the word out
we've seen this all before
and I am crouching a grown man slouching
thirty armed men at the door
the truth and the tooth came out
one in the paper and the other inside of his mouth
he left with a limp and a cut on his lip
hid the morning paper and never told his wife or his kids
now we're on our own
cutting coupons 10 dollars off
a crown and a thrown
discount royalty
high horse novelties
we'll pay full price cuz it's better
than being alone
let it wave
oh let it wave
let it wave
oh let it wave
Lyrics submitted by MrDelirious
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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