"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.
It isn't such a crime
It isn't such a shame
It happens all the time
You shouldn't take the blame
Go on and have a laugh
Go have a laugh on me
Go on and have a laugh
At all your misery
Mary Anne, Mary Anne (don't cry Mary Anne)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne
I'm thinking of you
Mary Anne, Mary Anne (don't cry Mary Anne)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne, Mary Anne
You take a look around
And all you seem to see
Is bringing you down
As down as you can be
Go on and have a laugh
Go have a laugh on me
Go on and have a laugh
At how bad it can be
Mary Anne, Mary Anne (you'll be all right)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne
I'm thinking of you
Mary Anne, Mary Anne (you'll be all right)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne, Mary Anne
Mary Anne, Mary Anne (goodnight Mary Anne)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne
I'm thinking of you Mary Anne, Mary Anne (goodnight Mary Anne)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne, Mary Anne
It isn't such a shame
It happens all the time
You shouldn't take the blame
Go on and have a laugh
Go have a laugh on me
Go on and have a laugh
At all your misery
Mary Anne, Mary Anne (don't cry Mary Anne)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne
I'm thinking of you
Mary Anne, Mary Anne (don't cry Mary Anne)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne, Mary Anne
You take a look around
And all you seem to see
Is bringing you down
As down as you can be
Go on and have a laugh
Go have a laugh on me
Go on and have a laugh
At how bad it can be
Mary Anne, Mary Anne (you'll be all right)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne
I'm thinking of you
Mary Anne, Mary Anne (you'll be all right)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne, Mary Anne
Mary Anne, Mary Anne (goodnight Mary Anne)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne
I'm thinking of you Mary Anne, Mary Anne (goodnight Mary Anne)
I really wanna tell you Mary Anne, Mary Anne, Mary Anne
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Mary Anne Lyrics as written by Marshall H Crenshaw
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Sweet guitar solo in the middle... cheers, all!