"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.
I wanna be honest, baby
I've still got a love left in my heart
But I'm fallin' apart
I didn't know how to say it
Or exactly where to start
I don't wanna be your shadow
Moving only where you move
I wanna be somebody's baby
Not somebody's fool
You take my love for granted
And sometimes act like you don't care
And that isn't fair
'Cause we started out together
Dreamin' a dream for us to share
I thought we were the exception
But you're breaking all the rules
I wanna be somebody's baby
Not somebody's fool
I always thought that love was all I needed
But now I know I need some things to change
I don't want to go as far as leaving
So for God's sake, make it easier to stay
I wanna be honest, baby
I've still got a love left in my heart
I'm just falling apart
I didn't know how to say it
But at least I've made a start
The cards are laid out on the table
Tell me what else can I do
I wanna be somebody's baby
Not somebody's fool
I wanna be somebody's baby
Not somebody's fool
I've still got a love left in my heart
But I'm fallin' apart
I didn't know how to say it
Or exactly where to start
I don't wanna be your shadow
Moving only where you move
I wanna be somebody's baby
Not somebody's fool
You take my love for granted
And sometimes act like you don't care
And that isn't fair
'Cause we started out together
Dreamin' a dream for us to share
I thought we were the exception
But you're breaking all the rules
I wanna be somebody's baby
Not somebody's fool
I always thought that love was all I needed
But now I know I need some things to change
I don't want to go as far as leaving
So for God's sake, make it easier to stay
I wanna be honest, baby
I've still got a love left in my heart
I'm just falling apart
I didn't know how to say it
But at least I've made a start
The cards are laid out on the table
Tell me what else can I do
I wanna be somebody's baby
Not somebody's fool
I wanna be somebody's baby
Not somebody's fool
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Not Somebody's Fool Lyrics as written by Skip Ewing Donny Kees
Lyrics © WRITE! ON MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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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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