"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, how did you get so wise?
I take the advice I find in your eyes.
Me, I've been waiting outside
Most of my life,
Oh like a rare b-side.
I'm just making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
Analog to show we're lovers,
And here under the jacket folds inside,
I've taped my heart for you to find.
To find the perfect way,
Which album to say,
I la la love you.
With this plastic cassette,
It's not finished yet,
It's gonna tell you slowly.
I'm just making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
Strings and drawings show we're lovers,
When you're driving around in the summertime,
To hear again, just press rewind.
Rewind, the world comes to an end,
Turns over again,
Another 1000 times.
But me, I'll be the same.
No, I never change,
Oh, like a rare B-side.
I'll be making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
Analog to show we're lovers,
So much rock and roll love in a plastic case,
Play it loudly, see my face.
I'm just making you mixtapes with homemade covers,
Mazzy Star, Donovan's Colors,
Just an audio love letter painted blue,
I spent all day making for you.
I take the advice I find in your eyes.
Me, I've been waiting outside
Most of my life,
Oh like a rare b-side.
I'm just making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
Analog to show we're lovers,
And here under the jacket folds inside,
I've taped my heart for you to find.
To find the perfect way,
Which album to say,
I la la love you.
With this plastic cassette,
It's not finished yet,
It's gonna tell you slowly.
I'm just making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
Strings and drawings show we're lovers,
When you're driving around in the summertime,
To hear again, just press rewind.
Rewind, the world comes to an end,
Turns over again,
Another 1000 times.
But me, I'll be the same.
No, I never change,
Oh, like a rare B-side.
I'll be making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
Analog to show we're lovers,
So much rock and roll love in a plastic case,
Play it loudly, see my face.
I'm just making you mixtapes with homemade covers,
Mazzy Star, Donovan's Colors,
Just an audio love letter painted blue,
I spent all day making for you.
Lyrics submitted by smallwonderrobot
Mixtape Lyrics as written by Tift Merritt
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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