"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.
Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They'll be dancing in Chicago
Down in New Orleans
In New York City
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be records playing
Dancin', swayin'
Dancing in the street
Well, doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So every guy grab a girl
Every night around the world
There'll be dancing in the street
This is an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughin', singin'
And music swingin'
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore, D.C. now
Can't forget the motor city
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be dancin', swayin'
Records playing
Dancing in the street
Well now, doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So every guy grab a girl
Every night around the world
There'll be dancing in the street
This is the invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughin', singin'
And music swingin'
Dancing in the street
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They'll be dancing in Chicago
Down in New Orleans
In New York City
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be records playing
Dancin', swayin'
Dancing in the street
Well, doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So every guy grab a girl
Every night around the world
There'll be dancing in the street
This is an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughin', singin'
And music swingin'
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore, D.C. now
Can't forget the motor city
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be dancin', swayin'
Records playing
Dancing in the street
Well now, doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So every guy grab a girl
Every night around the world
There'll be dancing in the street
This is the invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughin', singin'
And music swingin'
Dancing in the street
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Dancing In The Street Lyrics as written by William Stevenson Marvin Gaye
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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Dancing in the Street (Martha and the Vandellas cover) song meanings
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