"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.
(Chorus) (Last Emperor)
Over and over and over and over again now
Over and over and over and over again now
(Over again)
Over and over and over and over again now
(For all the women and men)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Here we go again)
[Verse 1]
He was a fly young cat, 23 to be exact
Ready to conquer the world fresh out of the pack
Comes from a small town, wrong side of the tracks
But somehow, he managed to slip through the cracks
He writes rhymes to escape what was awful and evil
Walks a fine line between lawful and legal
Seen a lot of bad times, there's a lot of good in him
Been around the world and still got the hood in him
If he carried a tech, would you call him a schemer?
If he sounds far fetched, would you call him a dreamer?
Stays true to himself, so he's not a deceiver
He found a lifetime job of making you a believer
Every now and then he would stare into space
And maybe think about if he had what it takes
He thinks about the hood and why he had to escape
And the family he left in that desolate place
It could be you or me or any man
Driving a sports car or a mini van
These are the aspirations of certain men
Who leave the neighborhood only to return again
Come on
(Chorus) (Last Emperor)
Over and over and over and over again now
(I know life around the way is hard)
Over and over and over and over again now
(You got a family, they need you God)
Over and over and over and over again now
(The aspirations of certain men)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Leave the neighborhood only to return again)
[Verse 2]
She was a sweet young thing, tender age of 20
Comes from a poor family with no money
Two children of her own, she never let them go hungry
There she is, all right you go honey
Early in life she had a chance to win
But she chose to put her future in the hands of men
Ever since her first love she was sure she could handle it
But in the end all she got was abandonment
Over and over again they seem to use her
From jerk to creep and from creep to loser
Come on mami, who would treat you like a friend?
You need somebody, when will the cycle end?
Another break up, you don't really love him girl
You better wake up; you're in trouble girl
But in her dreams she's a queen in another world
Easy, breezy, beautiful, cover girl
On the runway to Mr. Lover Man's charms
She breaks away from Mr. Lover Man's arms
And just when she was sure she had enough of men
She turns around and falls in love again
Come on
(Chorus) (Last Emperor)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Damn girl, why you got to go though this?)
Over and over and over and over again now
(I watch her stand there emotionless)
Over and over and over and over again now
(When nobody else noticed it)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Ooh, the sad songs from the vocalist)
Please embrace these stories
That have been placed before me
From hatred comes warring
From goodness must come glory
What is it I wonder
Some honor, some conquer
Different day, same drama
Remember it is karma
[Verse 3]
There's an old gray couple living right upstairs
Mid seventies, seemingly no cares
Always seem happy I can only guess why
Cause they barely getting by off the SSI (Hah)
Over the years their love affair grew
It was meant to be and some how they both knew
He said pray for me and I'll return to you
She waited faithfully during World War II
It was a hard time for a young couple just married
But they held on to the love they both carried
She read his letters telling her to stay strong
And on the phonograph played their favorite song (Yeah)
There were times they thought their love wouldn't make it
But like that old record, hard times couldn't break it
An old dusty record that they still hold sacred
And every anniversary I still here them play it
Yeah
(Chorus) (Last Emperor)
Over and over and over and over again now
(It was an old love affair)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Stand strong and they take it there)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Yes yes y'all)
Over and over and over and over again now
(We turn around and one day it's gone, come on)
Over and over and over and over again now
(I see you staying there)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Some times you got to take it there)
Over and over and over and over again now
Over and over and over and over again now
(Over again)
Over and over and over and over again now
(For all the women and men)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Here we go again)
[Verse 1]
He was a fly young cat, 23 to be exact
Ready to conquer the world fresh out of the pack
Comes from a small town, wrong side of the tracks
But somehow, he managed to slip through the cracks
He writes rhymes to escape what was awful and evil
Walks a fine line between lawful and legal
Seen a lot of bad times, there's a lot of good in him
Been around the world and still got the hood in him
If he carried a tech, would you call him a schemer?
If he sounds far fetched, would you call him a dreamer?
Stays true to himself, so he's not a deceiver
He found a lifetime job of making you a believer
Every now and then he would stare into space
And maybe think about if he had what it takes
He thinks about the hood and why he had to escape
And the family he left in that desolate place
It could be you or me or any man
Driving a sports car or a mini van
These are the aspirations of certain men
Who leave the neighborhood only to return again
Come on
(Chorus) (Last Emperor)
Over and over and over and over again now
(I know life around the way is hard)
Over and over and over and over again now
(You got a family, they need you God)
Over and over and over and over again now
(The aspirations of certain men)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Leave the neighborhood only to return again)
[Verse 2]
She was a sweet young thing, tender age of 20
Comes from a poor family with no money
Two children of her own, she never let them go hungry
There she is, all right you go honey
Early in life she had a chance to win
But she chose to put her future in the hands of men
Ever since her first love she was sure she could handle it
But in the end all she got was abandonment
Over and over again they seem to use her
From jerk to creep and from creep to loser
Come on mami, who would treat you like a friend?
You need somebody, when will the cycle end?
Another break up, you don't really love him girl
You better wake up; you're in trouble girl
But in her dreams she's a queen in another world
Easy, breezy, beautiful, cover girl
On the runway to Mr. Lover Man's charms
She breaks away from Mr. Lover Man's arms
And just when she was sure she had enough of men
She turns around and falls in love again
Come on
(Chorus) (Last Emperor)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Damn girl, why you got to go though this?)
Over and over and over and over again now
(I watch her stand there emotionless)
Over and over and over and over again now
(When nobody else noticed it)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Ooh, the sad songs from the vocalist)
Please embrace these stories
That have been placed before me
From hatred comes warring
From goodness must come glory
What is it I wonder
Some honor, some conquer
Different day, same drama
Remember it is karma
[Verse 3]
There's an old gray couple living right upstairs
Mid seventies, seemingly no cares
Always seem happy I can only guess why
Cause they barely getting by off the SSI (Hah)
Over the years their love affair grew
It was meant to be and some how they both knew
He said pray for me and I'll return to you
She waited faithfully during World War II
It was a hard time for a young couple just married
But they held on to the love they both carried
She read his letters telling her to stay strong
And on the phonograph played their favorite song (Yeah)
There were times they thought their love wouldn't make it
But like that old record, hard times couldn't break it
An old dusty record that they still hold sacred
And every anniversary I still here them play it
Yeah
(Chorus) (Last Emperor)
Over and over and over and over again now
(It was an old love affair)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Stand strong and they take it there)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Yes yes y'all)
Over and over and over and over again now
(We turn around and one day it's gone, come on)
Over and over and over and over again now
(I see you staying there)
Over and over and over and over again now
(Some times you got to take it there)
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Karma Lyrics as written by Carlos Jr. Vargas
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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