"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.
I wandered so aimless life filled with sin
I wouldn't let my dear Savior in
Then Jesus came
Like a stranger in the night
Praise the Lord I saw the light
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness
No more night
Now, I'm so happy
No sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
Just like a blind man
I wandered along worries and fears
I claimed for my own
Then like a blind man
That God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light
I saw the light
I was a fool to wander and stray
Straight is the gate and narrow the way
Now, I have traded
The wrong for the right
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
I saw the light
I wouldn't let my dear Savior in
Then Jesus came
Like a stranger in the night
Praise the Lord I saw the light
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness
No more night
Now, I'm so happy
No sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
Just like a blind man
I wandered along worries and fears
I claimed for my own
Then like a blind man
That God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light
I saw the light
I was a fool to wander and stray
Straight is the gate and narrow the way
Now, I have traded
The wrong for the right
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
I saw the light
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
I Saw the Light Lyrics as written by Hank Williams
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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