"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.
Words and music by Arlo Guthrie
In the event of my demise
Be sure to include this statement
When you are bent on closing my eyes
Thinking about what my life meant
Alone on a hill back in '65
Things looked a lot like changing
Singing our songs that we harmonized
Dreaming of worlds rearranging
And I don't know why I'm singing tonight
Maybe it's time someone told you
Just because you say you've seen the light
Doesn't mean nobody sold you
I can remember all of your smiles
During the demonstrations
Taking on what seemed like the whole world
Igniting the hearts of our nations
And together we sang our victory songs
Though we were worlds apart
Every thing then has now passed away
Except for the love in my heart
Sitting at home on computerized beds
Tryine to come to conclusions
Seeing reflections from rose-colored heads
Ignoring the states of illusion
Drunk in a world of material wealth
No one can notice you falling
Fantastic flights once good tor your health
Now make you deaf to your calling
And all alone the prophet groans
With words as yet unseen
Who'll be awake when the master returns
Who will be lost in their dreams
So in the event of my demise
8e sure to include this statement
Only the words of love kept alive
Are worthy of not being wasted
In the event of my demise
Be sure to include this statement
When you are bent on closing my eyes
Thinking about what my life meant
Alone on a hill back in '65
Things looked a lot like changing
Singing our songs that we harmonized
Dreaming of worlds rearranging
And I don't know why I'm singing tonight
Maybe it's time someone told you
Just because you say you've seen the light
Doesn't mean nobody sold you
I can remember all of your smiles
During the demonstrations
Taking on what seemed like the whole world
Igniting the hearts of our nations
And together we sang our victory songs
Though we were worlds apart
Every thing then has now passed away
Except for the love in my heart
Sitting at home on computerized beds
Tryine to come to conclusions
Seeing reflections from rose-colored heads
Ignoring the states of illusion
Drunk in a world of material wealth
No one can notice you falling
Fantastic flights once good tor your health
Now make you deaf to your calling
And all alone the prophet groans
With words as yet unseen
Who'll be awake when the master returns
Who will be lost in their dreams
So in the event of my demise
8e sure to include this statement
Only the words of love kept alive
Are worthy of not being wasted
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Prologue Lyrics as written by Arlo Gurthie
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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