"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.
Little Mary was five years old
Her parents left her, she was out in the cold
Alone to live and find her way
In this great world of heartache and pain
Eyes of brown, matted locks of gold
Her flowered dress is tattered and soiled
Tear stained cheeks, her feet cold and bare
Who could have left a child so rare
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
A burning heart and tired eyes
Howling winds for lullabies
No one there to soothe her fright
Nowhere to turn but the inward light
Because life is for believing
That your heart can turn to gold
All you need is Christ to receive it
There's eternal life for every soul
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
Rosemary, Rosemary
He loves you
He needs you
He wants you
So don't let him down
Singing
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
Yeah yeah,
Rosemary, singing, Rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary, come on now yeah
Got to keep the faith yeah
Keep the faith
Her parents left her, she was out in the cold
Alone to live and find her way
In this great world of heartache and pain
Eyes of brown, matted locks of gold
Her flowered dress is tattered and soiled
Tear stained cheeks, her feet cold and bare
Who could have left a child so rare
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
A burning heart and tired eyes
Howling winds for lullabies
No one there to soothe her fright
Nowhere to turn but the inward light
Because life is for believing
That your heart can turn to gold
All you need is Christ to receive it
There's eternal life for every soul
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
Rosemary, Rosemary
He loves you
He needs you
He wants you
So don't let him down
Singing
Rosemary your day will come
He loved you so He gave His only son
Keep the faith in your soul
Stay down on your knees
I'm begging you please
Hold onto the beads at your heart
Yeah yeah,
Rosemary, singing, Rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary, come on now yeah
Got to keep the faith yeah
Keep the faith
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Bubble Gum Lyrics as written by Stefanie J. Ridel Ronald Fair
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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