"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.
Tell me who's that writin', John the Revelator
Tell me who's that writin', John the Revelator
Tell me who's that writin', John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
He wrote the book of the seven seals
(O yes, tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
(Tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
(Tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
Look, God walked down the hill one day
Called Adam by his dame
And Adam wouldn't answer
'cause he was naked and ashamed
(Tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
(Tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
(Tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
You know Christ (Christ) had twelve apostels (spirit willing)
Three he layed away (O but the flesh was weak)
He said watch me while I walked (Ooh)
While I go out and prey
Listen
Well Christ rose on Easter morning (Hallelujah)
Mary mother came down to see (the resurrection)
He said Go and tell my disciples (Ooh)
To meet me in Galilee
Yes
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
Wrote the book of the seven seals
He wrote the book of the seven seals (Ooh)
Yeah, yes he did
Tell me why I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
Tell me why I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
Tell me why I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
(wrote the book of the seven seals)
Tell me what I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
Tell me what I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
Tell me what I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
(wrote the book of the seven seals)
(The revelation of Jesus) You know I thought I was a policeman
(The revelation of Jesus) An officer of the law
(The revelation of Jesus) But then I had a revelation
(The revelation of Jesus) Because of what I saw
(The revelation of Jesus) The air was always so gloomy
(The revelation of Jesus) Every day was dull and grey
(The revelation of Jesus) But now I see very clearly
(The revelation of Jesus) O, o, o, o happy day
(The revelation of Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) My God my God
(Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) Jesus
(The revelation of Jesus)
My my my my my my
(Jesus) My my my my
(Jesus) My my my my my my my my
(Jesus) My my my my my God
(Jesus) Yeah yeah
(Jesus) My my my my my God
(The revelation of Jesus) O
John the Revelator
Tell me who's that writin', John the Revelator
Tell me who's that writin', John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
He wrote the book of the seven seals
(O yes, tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
(Tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
(Tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
Look, God walked down the hill one day
Called Adam by his dame
And Adam wouldn't answer
'cause he was naked and ashamed
(Tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
(Tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
(Tell me who's that writin') John the Revelator
Wrote the book of the seven seals
You know Christ (Christ) had twelve apostels (spirit willing)
Three he layed away (O but the flesh was weak)
He said watch me while I walked (Ooh)
While I go out and prey
Listen
Well Christ rose on Easter morning (Hallelujah)
Mary mother came down to see (the resurrection)
He said Go and tell my disciples (Ooh)
To meet me in Galilee
Yes
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
Who's that writin' (John the Revelator)
Wrote the book of the seven seals
He wrote the book of the seven seals (Ooh)
Yeah, yes he did
Tell me why I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
Tell me why I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
Tell me why I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
(wrote the book of the seven seals)
Tell me what I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
Tell me what I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
Tell me what I'm shouting (John the Revelator)
(wrote the book of the seven seals)
(The revelation of Jesus) You know I thought I was a policeman
(The revelation of Jesus) An officer of the law
(The revelation of Jesus) But then I had a revelation
(The revelation of Jesus) Because of what I saw
(The revelation of Jesus) The air was always so gloomy
(The revelation of Jesus) Every day was dull and grey
(The revelation of Jesus) But now I see very clearly
(The revelation of Jesus) O, o, o, o happy day
(The revelation of Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) My God my God
(Jesus) Jesus
(Jesus) Jesus
(The revelation of Jesus)
My my my my my my
(Jesus) My my my my
(Jesus) My my my my my my my my
(Jesus) My my my my my God
(Jesus) Yeah yeah
(Jesus) My my my my my God
(The revelation of Jesus) O
John the Revelator
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
John the Revelator Lyrics as written by Willie T. Johnson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, ALPHA MUSIC, INC.
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