"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.
Le-Leah, Leah, Le-Leah, Leah
Here I go
From the hut to the boat to the sea
For Leah
Ah-hah I gotta go diving in the bay
Gotta get a lot of oysters find some pearls today
To make a pretty necklace for Leah
Le-e-ah
I've gotta go deep and find the ones just right
I'll bet my Leah'll be surprised tonight
I'll place the pearls around the only girl for me
Le-e-ah
But something's wrong I cannot move around
My leg is caught it's pulling me down
But I'll keep my hand shut tight for if they find me
They'll find the pearl for Leah
And now it's over I'm awake at last
Old heartaches and memories from the past
It was just another dream about my lost love
'Bout Le-e-ah
Le-Leah, Leah, Le-Leah, Leah
Here I go
Back to sleep and in my dreams I'll dream
With Leah, Leah, Le-ah
Here I go
From the hut to the boat to the sea
For Leah
Ah-hah I gotta go diving in the bay
Gotta get a lot of oysters find some pearls today
To make a pretty necklace for Leah
Le-e-ah
I've gotta go deep and find the ones just right
I'll bet my Leah'll be surprised tonight
I'll place the pearls around the only girl for me
Le-e-ah
But something's wrong I cannot move around
My leg is caught it's pulling me down
But I'll keep my hand shut tight for if they find me
They'll find the pearl for Leah
And now it's over I'm awake at last
Old heartaches and memories from the past
It was just another dream about my lost love
'Bout Le-e-ah
Le-Leah, Leah, Le-Leah, Leah
Here I go
Back to sleep and in my dreams I'll dream
With Leah, Leah, Le-ah
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Leah Lyrics as written by Roy Orbison
Lyrics © Orbi-Lee Music, Barbara Orbison Music Company, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, R-Key Darkus
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