"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.
Well I can accept that you have your faith
So you must accept that I have none
You chase your god into your grave
I'll die alone when my days are done
All these fabulous beasts that you strike down
All this beautiful land that you claim to command
And all these wars in the name of a book
There's god in your heart but there's blood on your hands
So where are you fires of Hell?
So where now your golden gates?
I see no angels, no heaven on high
I hear no marching of your saints
(Go placidly amongst the noise and haste)
Well, I know your churches are a sight to behold
And I know your stories as good as any man
I know we all have our crosses to bear
But I'll waste none of my time in desperate prayer
I've rung the bells of the Mont-St-Michel
But me and the saviour were never that close
I've called into the night with no hope of reply
But I've seen the holes in the Holy Ghost
So where now, your peace to all men?
So where now, your undeniable proof?
Where is it written, in paper or stone :
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?
So you must accept that I have none
You chase your god into your grave
I'll die alone when my days are done
All these fabulous beasts that you strike down
All this beautiful land that you claim to command
And all these wars in the name of a book
There's god in your heart but there's blood on your hands
So where are you fires of Hell?
So where now your golden gates?
I see no angels, no heaven on high
I hear no marching of your saints
(Go placidly amongst the noise and haste)
Well, I know your churches are a sight to behold
And I know your stories as good as any man
I know we all have our crosses to bear
But I'll waste none of my time in desperate prayer
I've rung the bells of the Mont-St-Michel
But me and the saviour were never that close
I've called into the night with no hope of reply
But I've seen the holes in the Holy Ghost
So where now, your peace to all men?
So where now, your undeniable proof?
Where is it written, in paper or stone :
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?
Lyrics submitted by floatingswans
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Fast Car
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