"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.
Remnants strewn upon the ground,
Drag the carcass withered and brown,
Sockets crushed powder remaining
On the black puss, undead are preying.
Pulling at the fragments of existence,
Suicide for those who cannot retaliate,
Coagulated limbs tiredly twist and
Tear at the purpose to mutilate.
Straggling across the charred earthen floor.
All are dead few remain, where is the Lord?
Sky is swollen, crimson display.
Tattered fringe of sanity quickly decays.
Your brain now filled with chemical pollution.
Black lungs cilia limp chlorific solution.
All life is scarred, lethal compulsion.
Victim of addictive source sedative induction.
Scattered remains, existence shattered, chaos ordained.
Democracy battered.
Scattered remains, existence shattered, chaos ordained.
Democracy battered.
Remnants of withered decay.
Helpless victims extended in the killing crime.
Flesh penetrated, abnormal cells intertwined.
Your life spent, death extended easily.
Homicide accepted pleasingly.
Body deteriorates, rapid decline.
Health is malignant, weakening of the spine.
Skeletal frame erodes in design.
Embroiled in habitat, trapped and confined.
Catastrophic remnants torn down through the ages.
Blood flows free over the faces.
Existence lies tortured morbidly staring.
At what once was theirs that now lies wasted.
Scattered remains, conformity uncontrolled.
Discipline dismantled, serenity shows mold.
Stream of unconsciousness slowly grips your brain.
Mental contortion abscess of pain.
Last light of day smothered now snuffed.
Release of hate conquers what is left of,
Humanity falters, elimination. Widespread fear, demolition.
Cease of breeding, nullification. Dark disciples termination.
Scattered remains, barren defecation.
Ground lies bloodstained, killing ratification.
Apocalypse.
Drag the carcass withered and brown,
Sockets crushed powder remaining
On the black puss, undead are preying.
Pulling at the fragments of existence,
Suicide for those who cannot retaliate,
Coagulated limbs tiredly twist and
Tear at the purpose to mutilate.
Straggling across the charred earthen floor.
All are dead few remain, where is the Lord?
Sky is swollen, crimson display.
Tattered fringe of sanity quickly decays.
Your brain now filled with chemical pollution.
Black lungs cilia limp chlorific solution.
All life is scarred, lethal compulsion.
Victim of addictive source sedative induction.
Scattered remains, existence shattered, chaos ordained.
Democracy battered.
Scattered remains, existence shattered, chaos ordained.
Democracy battered.
Remnants of withered decay.
Helpless victims extended in the killing crime.
Flesh penetrated, abnormal cells intertwined.
Your life spent, death extended easily.
Homicide accepted pleasingly.
Body deteriorates, rapid decline.
Health is malignant, weakening of the spine.
Skeletal frame erodes in design.
Embroiled in habitat, trapped and confined.
Catastrophic remnants torn down through the ages.
Blood flows free over the faces.
Existence lies tortured morbidly staring.
At what once was theirs that now lies wasted.
Scattered remains, conformity uncontrolled.
Discipline dismantled, serenity shows mold.
Stream of unconsciousness slowly grips your brain.
Mental contortion abscess of pain.
Last light of day smothered now snuffed.
Release of hate conquers what is left of,
Humanity falters, elimination. Widespread fear, demolition.
Cease of breeding, nullification. Dark disciples termination.
Scattered remains, barren defecation.
Ground lies bloodstained, killing ratification.
Apocalypse.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Remnants of Withered Decay Lyrics as written by Brett Hoffmann Phil Fasciana
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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