"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.
Yo, yo...one time, one time...one time, yo...yo, yo
One time when I come, two times when I'm done,
Old truck like Sanford and Son.
Next week can't recognize,
On chrome so pretty to the naked eyes.
That's me, on the road again,
This 8 x 10 is closing in.
In the hood I had it all,
And a cold motherfucker with a basketball.
Now I play with prisoners,
And don't nobody trip with us.
Some in Garza, some in Dominguez,
Cops ask, "No speaky English".
And the holidays are the hardest,
Gotta stay headstrong, regardless.
And you are gonna have your days,
In the place where killas have to pray.
In the place where killas have to pray.
In the place where killas have to pray.
He is the last chair violinist,
The one who brings hope.
To those who are the last chair violinist,
Whose pain no one knows.
I seen the pain in the eyes of lonely men,
When can we ever be whole again?
Without Gina and my kids,
A nigga just don't really wanna live.
But I gotta stay free in my mind,
Eventually hearts freeze doin' time.
No love, just respect,
Steel shank touch his neck.
Pick up another casualty,
Put him in the fridge, call his family.
And his mom had a dream,
All this would be happenin'.
Trafficking to the rappin' king,
Everything's unraveling.
Invest in me, it's destiny,
I'll still wreck from the penitentiary.
I'll still wreck from the penitentiary.
I'll still wreck from the penitentiary.
He is the last chair violinist,
The one who brings hope.
To those who are the last chair violinist,
Whose pain no one knows.
Two hits inhale, homie hold your breath,
This is all the indo that's left.
Watch man, don't let 'em see,
Keep your eyes on the enemy.
He did 20 on 70,
Last game that he played was Centipede.
In the world, everything changed,
Look around, things seem strange.
All the kids in gangsta shit,
Lil' young motherfuckers livin' dangerous.
Claimin' this and chunkin' that,
Makin' more moves than a runningback.
Up in prison, he was Christian,
Got no job and his wife is bitchin'.
So he back on the streets again,
8 months later, back in the pen.
8 months later, back in the pen.
8 months later, back in the pen.
He is the last chair violinist,
The one who brings hope.
To those who are the last chair violinist,
Whose pain no one knows.
One time when I come, two times when I'm done,
Old truck like Sanford and Son.
Next week can't recognize,
On chrome so pretty to the naked eyes.
That's me, on the road again,
This 8 x 10 is closing in.
In the hood I had it all,
And a cold motherfucker with a basketball.
Now I play with prisoners,
And don't nobody trip with us.
Some in Garza, some in Dominguez,
Cops ask, "No speaky English".
And the holidays are the hardest,
Gotta stay headstrong, regardless.
And you are gonna have your days,
In the place where killas have to pray.
In the place where killas have to pray.
In the place where killas have to pray.
He is the last chair violinist,
The one who brings hope.
To those who are the last chair violinist,
Whose pain no one knows.
I seen the pain in the eyes of lonely men,
When can we ever be whole again?
Without Gina and my kids,
A nigga just don't really wanna live.
But I gotta stay free in my mind,
Eventually hearts freeze doin' time.
No love, just respect,
Steel shank touch his neck.
Pick up another casualty,
Put him in the fridge, call his family.
And his mom had a dream,
All this would be happenin'.
Trafficking to the rappin' king,
Everything's unraveling.
Invest in me, it's destiny,
I'll still wreck from the penitentiary.
I'll still wreck from the penitentiary.
I'll still wreck from the penitentiary.
He is the last chair violinist,
The one who brings hope.
To those who are the last chair violinist,
Whose pain no one knows.
Two hits inhale, homie hold your breath,
This is all the indo that's left.
Watch man, don't let 'em see,
Keep your eyes on the enemy.
He did 20 on 70,
Last game that he played was Centipede.
In the world, everything changed,
Look around, things seem strange.
All the kids in gangsta shit,
Lil' young motherfuckers livin' dangerous.
Claimin' this and chunkin' that,
Makin' more moves than a runningback.
Up in prison, he was Christian,
Got no job and his wife is bitchin'.
So he back on the streets again,
8 months later, back in the pen.
8 months later, back in the pen.
8 months later, back in the pen.
He is the last chair violinist,
The one who brings hope.
To those who are the last chair violinist,
Whose pain no one knows.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Last Chair Violinist Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © SOULYRICAL PUBLISHING
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