"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 thought you'd found a good girl
One to love you and give you the world
Now you find that you've been misused
Talk to me, I'll do what you choose, I want you to
Tell Mama, all about it
Tell Mama, what you need
Tell Mama, what you want
And I'll make everything alright
That girl you had didn't have no sense
She wasn't worth all the time that you spent
She had another man throw you outdoors
Now the same man is wearing your clothes, I want you to
Tell Mama, all about it
Tell Mama, what you need
Tell Mama, what you want
And I'll make everything alright
Tell me, tell me now
She would embarrass you anywhere
She'd let everybody know she didn't care
Give me a chance I've been beggin' you
And I just want to take care of you, I want you to
Tell Mama, all about it
Tell Mama, what you need
Tell Mama, what you want
Tell Mama, what you want right now
Tell me, tell your mom
I'm your Mama
Tell me what you want
One to love you and give you the world
Now you find that you've been misused
Talk to me, I'll do what you choose, I want you to
Tell Mama, all about it
Tell Mama, what you need
Tell Mama, what you want
And I'll make everything alright
That girl you had didn't have no sense
She wasn't worth all the time that you spent
She had another man throw you outdoors
Now the same man is wearing your clothes, I want you to
Tell Mama, all about it
Tell Mama, what you need
Tell Mama, what you want
And I'll make everything alright
Tell me, tell me now
She would embarrass you anywhere
She'd let everybody know she didn't care
Give me a chance I've been beggin' you
And I just want to take care of you, I want you to
Tell Mama, all about it
Tell Mama, what you need
Tell Mama, what you want
Tell Mama, what you want right now
Tell me, tell your mom
I'm your Mama
Tell me what you want
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Tell Mama [Single Version] Lyrics as written by Marcus Daniel Wilbur Terrell
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Why isn't it: "She had another man throw you outdoors Now the same man is wearing your drawers" ???? (this song is so dang fun, though)