"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.
As the crow flies, baby
Will I ain't so far from you
As the crow flies, baby
Will I ain't so far from you
But since I don't have wings
I can't get home as fast as I want to
As the crow flies, baby
Will I ain't so far from you
As the crow flies, baby
Will I ain't so far from you
But since I don't have wings
I can't get home as fast as I want to
In a dream last night
Where I heard you call my name
In a dream last night
Where I heard you call my name
Well, I took it as an omen
And I jumped on the very first weight train
Yeah, as the crow flies
Well, you don't know baby
How I miss you sweet caress
Well, you don't know baby
How I miss you sweet caress
When I'm in your lovin' arms
I swear I make my very best
As the crow flies, baby
That's how I'm on my way
As the crow flies, baby
I'm on my way
But don't stop runnin'
I can get home for the break of day
Get home for the break of day (x7)
Will I ain't so far from you
As the crow flies, baby
Will I ain't so far from you
But since I don't have wings
I can't get home as fast as I want to
As the crow flies, baby
Will I ain't so far from you
As the crow flies, baby
Will I ain't so far from you
But since I don't have wings
I can't get home as fast as I want to
In a dream last night
Where I heard you call my name
In a dream last night
Where I heard you call my name
Well, I took it as an omen
And I jumped on the very first weight train
Yeah, as the crow flies
Well, you don't know baby
How I miss you sweet caress
Well, you don't know baby
How I miss you sweet caress
When I'm in your lovin' arms
I swear I make my very best
As the crow flies, baby
That's how I'm on my way
As the crow flies, baby
I'm on my way
But don't stop runnin'
I can get home for the break of day
Get home for the break of day (x7)
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
As the Crow Flies Lyrics as written by Tony Joe White
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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