"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.
If I spoke in tounges of men and spoke in tounges of angels
If I could not speak with love I'd just be cymbals clanging
And everyone would hold their ears, they wouldn't know how to take it
Not a soul would want to hear a racket so outrageous
If I spoke in prophecy, the fate of men and nations
If I knew the mysteries and the secrets of creations
And had all the faith I need, enough for mountain moving
Without love to carry me, what good would it do me
Love is kind it suffers long
It's never proud or jealous
Love will never do you wrong
Love will never phase
And it hopes, belives, and dares all things
It will never be defeated
More than faith, more than hope, love is the greatest
Knowledge, prophecy will fade and toungues will all fall silent
Love that lives is here to stay solid and defiant
Though it's hard to see these things through a dark glass strained
When we are standing face, the truth won't need explaining
Though it's hard to see these things through a dark glass strained
When we are standing face, the truth won't need explaining
If I could not speak with love I'd just be cymbals clanging
And everyone would hold their ears, they wouldn't know how to take it
Not a soul would want to hear a racket so outrageous
If I spoke in prophecy, the fate of men and nations
If I knew the mysteries and the secrets of creations
And had all the faith I need, enough for mountain moving
Without love to carry me, what good would it do me
Love is kind it suffers long
It's never proud or jealous
Love will never do you wrong
Love will never phase
And it hopes, belives, and dares all things
It will never be defeated
More than faith, more than hope, love is the greatest
Knowledge, prophecy will fade and toungues will all fall silent
Love that lives is here to stay solid and defiant
Though it's hard to see these things through a dark glass strained
When we are standing face, the truth won't need explaining
Though it's hard to see these things through a dark glass strained
When we are standing face, the truth won't need explaining
Lyrics submitted by martincr70
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