"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.
Somewhere to the south of New York City
Lies the friendly state of Tennessee
Down in Nashville town, I met a pretty
Made a pretty big fool out of me
And they call her Sally
Sally G, why do you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
You took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G
The night life took me down to Printers Alley
Where Sally sang a song behind a bar
I ran my eyes across her as she sang a tangled mime
I used to love to hear her sweet guitar
And they call her Sally
Sally G, why do you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
You took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G
Me and Sally took up
Things began to look up
Me and her were going strong
Then she started lyin'
I could see our love was dyin'
I heard a voice say
"Move along, move along"
Well now, I'm on my own again
I wonder if she ever really understood
I never thought to ask her what the letter "G" stood for
But I know for sure it wasn't good
And they call her Sally
Sally G, why do you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
Took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G
Take it, chaps
Sally G
Lies the friendly state of Tennessee
Down in Nashville town, I met a pretty
Made a pretty big fool out of me
And they call her Sally
Sally G, why do you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
You took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G
The night life took me down to Printers Alley
Where Sally sang a song behind a bar
I ran my eyes across her as she sang a tangled mime
I used to love to hear her sweet guitar
And they call her Sally
Sally G, why do you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
You took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G
Me and Sally took up
Things began to look up
Me and her were going strong
Then she started lyin'
I could see our love was dyin'
I heard a voice say
"Move along, move along"
Well now, I'm on my own again
I wonder if she ever really understood
I never thought to ask her what the letter "G" stood for
But I know for sure it wasn't good
And they call her Sally
Sally G, why do you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
Took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G
Take it, chaps
Sally G
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Sally G Lyrics as written by Linda Mccartney Paul Mccartney
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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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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Great version of a great song,
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