"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.
Well you can ride the hennenpin crawler for a dollar
Peddle it around the world
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
Impress them steam punk girls
If you ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
You'll feel that burn in your thigh
'Cause when you ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
You get to touch that pie in the sky
He'll show his crusty old pickle for a nickel
Must say I'd rather not
He tried to show a girl off of Florence street
He's damn lucky he didn't get caught
Fell asleep on night with a lit cigarette
As he tried to drink away his pain
When a fireman doused his burnt out shack
All they found was a greasy stain
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go
Now you can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
And peddle your cares away
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
You best be prepared to pay
'Cause when you ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
There's no friends or cuttin' deals
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
Sweat's gonna grease them wheels
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go
He tried to buy a lotta ore for a quarter
Way back in the olden days
He sold his soul for a donut hole
He could muster the nerve to ask for a raise
She sold sea shells and other things
Down by the old sea shore
When she sold her song to a beer commercial
She looked like a filthy whore
Ha ha
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go
Now you can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
Peddle it around the world
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
Impress them steam punk girls
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
You feel that burn in your thigh
'Cause when you ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
You get to bite that pie in the sky
You get to bite that pie in the sky
You get to bite that pie in the sky
You get to bite that pie in the sky
You get to bite that pie in the sky
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Hennepin, Hennepin Crawler
Hennepin, Hennepin Crawler
Hennepin, Hennepin Crawler
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
Peddle it around the world
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
Impress them steam punk girls
If you ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
You'll feel that burn in your thigh
'Cause when you ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
You get to touch that pie in the sky
He'll show his crusty old pickle for a nickel
Must say I'd rather not
He tried to show a girl off of Florence street
He's damn lucky he didn't get caught
Fell asleep on night with a lit cigarette
As he tried to drink away his pain
When a fireman doused his burnt out shack
All they found was a greasy stain
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go
Now you can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
And peddle your cares away
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
You best be prepared to pay
'Cause when you ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
There's no friends or cuttin' deals
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
Sweat's gonna grease them wheels
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go
He tried to buy a lotta ore for a quarter
Way back in the olden days
He sold his soul for a donut hole
He could muster the nerve to ask for a raise
She sold sea shells and other things
Down by the old sea shore
When she sold her song to a beer commercial
She looked like a filthy whore
Ha ha
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go
Now you can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
Peddle it around the world
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
Impress them steam punk girls
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
You feel that burn in your thigh
'Cause when you ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
You get to bite that pie in the sky
You get to bite that pie in the sky
You get to bite that pie in the sky
You get to bite that pie in the sky
You get to bite that pie in the sky
Go go
Go go
Go go
Go go
Hennepin, Hennepin Crawler
Hennepin, Hennepin Crawler
Hennepin, Hennepin Crawler
You can ride the Hennepin Crawler for a dollar
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imo, the deeper meaning with respect to this song is the same as the overall concept of Green Naugahyde. Les is referring to the foolish Go-Green movement that's happening in the world right now. The Hennepin Crawler is an example of how naive people are about "saving the planet" by using recycled waste materials to build more impractical material goods. He's pointing out how gullible people are being converted into self-righteous green fascists. They are fed false information about what is happening to the planet and false solutions.
The TV, the UN, national governments, corporations, etc. are basically telling these people that if they recycle enough and use highly-inefficient, impractical sources of power (i.e. wind & solar power), then they're doing their part in saving the planet (so they'll get to "touch that pie in the sky"). But really, they're only doing it for their own selfish benefit (e.g. to "impress them steam-punk girls" at Burning Man or whatever). So they can't see how it actually compromises their own survival, and how it keeps their eye off of the only real game that is played in this physical reality: the money game (so you end up with "no friends who're fit for deals"). This idea sort-of hearkens back to Groundhog's Day.. you have to pay to play. It's sad truth, but when you deny it instead of dealing with it in a realistic/rational way, the dominators will take advantage of your self-deceit, and you end up pedaling a bicycle (i.e. compromising your already-difficult life) for no good reason.
Yikes, rejesterd. You are a madman. Theres NO WAY this song is about environmentalism!
That's true, it's not ONLY about environmentalism. I was just trying to point out the connection between this song and what I see as being the overarching concept of the album. If you notice, the album cover shows a plastic dopey character with a silly green hat riding a bicycle that he's permanently attached to by his hands and feet. This appears to be a satirical comment on the whole "go green" attitude that has infected a large percentage of the population.<br /> <br /> But this song is also a commentary on how stupid and materialistic our society has become (which is where the other characters come into play in the stream of consciousness, as you pointed out). So I agree that there's more to the song than just the environmental piece, but I do think it has a deeper, abstract meaning. It's very difficult to put into words of course (which is why I love Primus).<br /> <br />
Wow, thanks man. I honestly didn't think anyone would have a clue as to the point of this, or for the album for that matter. Your comment totally blew me away. I can't believe I missed the environmental theme that is carried throughout.
I really like this interpretation.
Looks to me like the dislike of environmental politics came first and the dubious interpretation came later!<br /> <br /> 1) The Hennepin Crawler is a real thing - krankboomclank.com/ - and I don't think anybody who has had to pedal this thing would claim it is a green transport solution. Its very appeal comes from the fact it is so weird and impractical. It's just a bit of fun, and they probably transport it to festivals in the back of an F150 for all I know.<br /> <br /> 2) There is very little in this song about environmental politics, and IMO it doesn't benefit from having them tacked on after the fact. <br /> <br /> 3) It's quite a breathtaking generalisation to say that pedalling a bicycle equates to 'compromising your life'! Depends what you use it for surely? But then you seem to have made your mind up that any move towards saving energy, or securing renewable sources, is just part of the Green Conspiracy.<br /> <br /> Well, this is not the forum to try and convince you otherwise, so have fun fracking on Indian reservations, and thanks for all the nice sunsets, but let's not try and ascribe dubious political meaning where there is none in evidence. Cheers...
truedave, what do you think the song/album means?
I knida just thought of this song meaning what stupid things people will do for money. the verses show that. The Hennipen Crawler choruses are kind of explaning what stupid things people spend their money on. The whole album has overtones of stupidity with money and vices.
Had no idea what a Hennepin Crawler was til I looked it up and recognized it immediately Can see why it would impress the steam punk girls. Still not sure about what the song is about if there is a "deeper meaning" or just Les rambling. But I think there's always a method to his madness, anybody else got ideas?
Hennepin Crawler: culturebully.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/2010-primus-band.jpg
As the fellow who posted these lyrics, I listened intently to this great, albeit poorly mixed, song, it was tough to pull out the words. Got em though. Like miramarjuice, had to look up what a Hennepin crawler was. Must say, its more silly than practical.
Lyrics just stream of consciousness. No deeper meaning here except for brief vignettes of four characters.
Nothing deeper than this.
There is a short clip on You-Tube of that crazy bicycle thing they call Hennepin Crawler and a presenter is some "steam-punk" girl announcing it. Found it somewhat disturbing, i'm not sure why. I find this song very brutal and sharp as a razor. I think it revolves about the same theme as Green Ranger. Maybe it's about a green movement, or maker movement, or about wasting your life and your time on unproductive things, or maybe selling yourself cheap, or not having the guts and courage, i don't know. This song is about loosing in life, in one way or another. And the message is presented in very raw and unforgiving way
@IvekZg Is that so?
Of course Primus is no stranger to Minnesota, where we have Hennepin County, Lake Hennepin, and Hennepin Avenue... all of which are involved in a "pub crawl" where people can rent a "Pedal Pub." I'm pretty Claypool knew of this and was just using it in his refrain to tie together a bunch of silly disparate scenes. . . He's done that before you know.