"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.
Open my mind let the thought follow in
In the wake of the scent of the summer wind beckoning
This is the chance I've been needing
This is the change I've been looking for
Beating the moths to the flame of my fear
Burning holes in me
Gracing my hopes with the scars of my days
Though long lived and prosperous memory fades
And I cannot recall ever seeing
Such as my new found need for believing
Nothing yet not unlike anything
I've ever been before
Like I was never there
Was I ever there
Then what are these memories I know we share
Carry me to the river of my fortune
Faithfully I will follow no guiding light
Carry me to your blossoming orchard
Thankfully I will let you carry me
Hold on to me as reality breaks
The liquid inside the sugar core evaporates
This is the taste I've been savoring
This is the tonic my pain has me swallowing
Give me clarity, make me forget
My name I never knew
Like I was never there
Was I ever there
Then what are these memories I know we share
Carry me to the river of my fortune
Faithfully I will follow no guiding light
Carry me to your blossoming orchard
Thankfully I will let you carry me
Open your arms let this whipping boy in
Away from the faces of ruthless gods harrowing
This is the home I've been making
This is the place of my heart I've been searching
To here lead the footprints the beach was saving just for me
In the wake of the scent of the summer wind beckoning
This is the chance I've been needing
This is the change I've been looking for
Beating the moths to the flame of my fear
Burning holes in me
Gracing my hopes with the scars of my days
Though long lived and prosperous memory fades
And I cannot recall ever seeing
Such as my new found need for believing
Nothing yet not unlike anything
I've ever been before
Like I was never there
Was I ever there
Then what are these memories I know we share
Carry me to the river of my fortune
Faithfully I will follow no guiding light
Carry me to your blossoming orchard
Thankfully I will let you carry me
Hold on to me as reality breaks
The liquid inside the sugar core evaporates
This is the taste I've been savoring
This is the tonic my pain has me swallowing
Give me clarity, make me forget
My name I never knew
Like I was never there
Was I ever there
Then what are these memories I know we share
Carry me to the river of my fortune
Faithfully I will follow no guiding light
Carry me to your blossoming orchard
Thankfully I will let you carry me
Open your arms let this whipping boy in
Away from the faces of ruthless gods harrowing
This is the home I've been making
This is the place of my heart I've been searching
To here lead the footprints the beach was saving just for me
Lyrics submitted by kahlen927
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Great version of a great song,
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