"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.
He said: "Hi, my name is Timmy and I'm pushin' five years old.
"I can count to this many, then I'll have to use my toes.
"I sure am glad to meet you,
"Let me show you stuff that only big boys know.
"Now, nickels might be bigger but dimes are worth the most.
"Santa's always in the mall, but he lives at the North Pole.
"Kid stick with me and you'll go far,
"'Cause I'll show you the ropes."
"In all these years I've learned many things,
"How to walk, how to talk, and make believe:
"So follow me.
"Notebook paper makes a dandy stealth fighter,
"And for fast get aways, we'll take my radio flyer.
"And there's Indians in the woods,
"Just off the porch out back.
"And if they attack, I'll help ya fight 'em.
"With sticks for guns, me and you, until we've won,
'"Cause that's what brothers do.
Mama said that you're the reason her belly got so big.
And I didn't believe her till she let me feel you kick.
And I don't know how it happened,
I'm just glad that I have someone to play with.
"In all these years I've learned many things,
"How to walk, how to talk, and make believe:
"So follow me.
"Notebook paper makes a dandy stealth fighter,
"And for fast get aways, we'll take my radio flyer.
"And there's Indians in the woods,
"Just off the porch out back.
"And if they attack, I'll help ya fight 'em.
"With sticks for guns, me and you, until we've won,
'"Cause that's what brothers do.
"We'll play cops and robbers and secret agent man,
"And save the world from hostile aliens.
"With sticks for guns, me and you, until we've won,
"'Cause that's what brothers do.
"That's what brothers do."
He said: "Hi, my name is Timmy and I'm pushin' five years old."
"I can count to this many, then I'll have to use my toes.
"I sure am glad to meet you,
"Let me show you stuff that only big boys know.
"Now, nickels might be bigger but dimes are worth the most.
"Santa's always in the mall, but he lives at the North Pole.
"Kid stick with me and you'll go far,
"'Cause I'll show you the ropes."
"In all these years I've learned many things,
"How to walk, how to talk, and make believe:
"So follow me.
"Notebook paper makes a dandy stealth fighter,
"And for fast get aways, we'll take my radio flyer.
"And there's Indians in the woods,
"Just off the porch out back.
"And if they attack, I'll help ya fight 'em.
"With sticks for guns, me and you, until we've won,
'"Cause that's what brothers do.
Mama said that you're the reason her belly got so big.
And I didn't believe her till she let me feel you kick.
And I don't know how it happened,
I'm just glad that I have someone to play with.
"In all these years I've learned many things,
"How to walk, how to talk, and make believe:
"So follow me.
"Notebook paper makes a dandy stealth fighter,
"And for fast get aways, we'll take my radio flyer.
"And there's Indians in the woods,
"Just off the porch out back.
"And if they attack, I'll help ya fight 'em.
"With sticks for guns, me and you, until we've won,
'"Cause that's what brothers do.
"We'll play cops and robbers and secret agent man,
"And save the world from hostile aliens.
"With sticks for guns, me and you, until we've won,
"'Cause that's what brothers do.
"That's what brothers do."
He said: "Hi, my name is Timmy and I'm pushin' five years old."
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
What Brothers Do Lyrics as written by R. Anthony Smith Chris Allen Wallin
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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