"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 was looking for a rhyme for the New York Times
When I sensed I was not alone
She said "do you know how to spell 'audaciously'?"
I could tell I was in love
And so I forced a smile contrary to my style
And she looked into my eyes
She said "do you want to go heaven,
Or would you rather not be saved?
Here comes my train
I'm on my way, will you not see?
I don't need your sympathy
I won't read your poetry, oh sweetness please
So she took me back to her basement flat
Which was down on Charlotte Street
Though it was never my intention
We were not intense, not least because--
"Well. if you must just take, then I'm a piece of cake"
That is what she said to me
And so I gave myself to her charity
Well at least that's how it seemed
Here comes my train
I'm on my way, what got into me?
I don't need your sympathy
I won't read your poetry, oh bittersweets
I was looking for a rhyme for the New York Times when I was distracted
Yes, those were precious times together that we wasted
Now I'm working hard for my union card
I must be leaving Charlotte Street
Though it was never my intention to stay so long
So long
When I sensed I was not alone
She said "do you know how to spell 'audaciously'?"
I could tell I was in love
And so I forced a smile contrary to my style
And she looked into my eyes
She said "do you want to go heaven,
Or would you rather not be saved?
Here comes my train
I'm on my way, will you not see?
I don't need your sympathy
I won't read your poetry, oh sweetness please
So she took me back to her basement flat
Which was down on Charlotte Street
Though it was never my intention
We were not intense, not least because--
"Well. if you must just take, then I'm a piece of cake"
That is what she said to me
And so I gave myself to her charity
Well at least that's how it seemed
Here comes my train
I'm on my way, what got into me?
I don't need your sympathy
I won't read your poetry, oh bittersweets
I was looking for a rhyme for the New York Times when I was distracted
Yes, those were precious times together that we wasted
Now I'm working hard for my union card
I must be leaving Charlotte Street
Though it was never my intention to stay so long
So long
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Charlotte Street Lyrics as written by Lloyd Cole
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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