"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.
You're the one that they used to hate
But they like you now
And everything that goes away
Will be returned somehow
They're the ones that spit on you
'Cause they got no heart
I'm the one that will follow you
You're my Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
You had a vision they couldn't see so
They put you down
But everything that you said would happen
It came around
And they're the ones that put you down
'Cause they got no heart
But I'm the one that will follow you
You're my Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys their time is through
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
I'll follow you
Now they tell you that you're their muse
Yeah, they're so inspired
But where were they when they called your name
And they lit the fire?
When the voices came, you cut your hair
But you're still confused
But I'm the one with a heavy heart
'Cause I'll follow you
My Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys their time is through
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
When the boys are over you
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
I'll follow you
(I really wanna know you)
Tu dis que tu est mon juge
Mais je ne te crois pas
Alors tu dis que je suis une sainte
Mais ce n'est pas moi
J'entends des voix
Mais ce n'est pas moi
Je ne suis pas Jeanne d'Arc
And if you shoot, you better hit your mark (Hit your mark)
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys their time is through
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
When the boys are over you
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
I'll follow you
Joan, it's true
I only wanna to know you
Joan, it's true
it's true, I only wanna to know you
But Joan
I only wanna to know you
(First they love you)
(Then they kill you)
(Then they love you again)
(And then they love you)
(Then they kill you)
(Then they love you again)
(Love love you)
(Kill kill you)
And then they love you again
They love love you
Kill kill you
And then they love you again
But they like you now
And everything that goes away
Will be returned somehow
They're the ones that spit on you
'Cause they got no heart
I'm the one that will follow you
You're my Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
You had a vision they couldn't see so
They put you down
But everything that you said would happen
It came around
And they're the ones that put you down
'Cause they got no heart
But I'm the one that will follow you
You're my Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys their time is through
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
I'll follow you
Now they tell you that you're their muse
Yeah, they're so inspired
But where were they when they called your name
And they lit the fire?
When the voices came, you cut your hair
But you're still confused
But I'm the one with a heavy heart
'Cause I'll follow you
My Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys their time is through
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
When the boys are over you
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
I'll follow you
(I really wanna know you)
Tu dis que tu est mon juge
Mais je ne te crois pas
Alors tu dis que je suis une sainte
Mais ce n'est pas moi
J'entends des voix
Mais ce n'est pas moi
Je ne suis pas Jeanne d'Arc
And if you shoot, you better hit your mark (Hit your mark)
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys their time is through
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
When the boys are over you
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
I'll follow you
Joan, it's true
I only wanna to know you
Joan, it's true
it's true, I only wanna to know you
But Joan
I only wanna to know you
(First they love you)
(Then they kill you)
(Then they love you again)
(And then they love you)
(Then they kill you)
(Then they love you again)
(Love love you)
(Kill kill you)
And then they love you again
They love love you
Kill kill you
And then they love you again
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by Bskiffington, Mellow_Harsher
Joan of Arc Lyrics as written by Regine Chassagne Jeremy Gara
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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According to Goolge Translate, the translation of the french part of the song is:
You say that you are my judge But I do not believe you So you're saying I'm a saint But it is not me I hear voices But it is not me I'm not Joan of Arc
Those translations tend to be very literal, but I think the sense of what the female part sings in this song is important to its meaning.
I picture the main singer of the song as picturing a bullied, screwed up girl as his "Joan of Arc" and someone he can follow. He always felt alone and so he pursues a relationship with her.
However, as with most of the things he perceives, it is only a reflection of his own desires. He is looking for a leader because he is lost, but she is no more a leader than he is.
Instead of seeing a screwed up young woman with her own problems, he idolizes and judges her to be his reason for existence. When he makes his feelings known, she professes that she is not what he thinks she is and if he is going to judge he better "hit his mark".
Maybe the translation is skewing my interpretation but I think it is a unique take on a common modern love story. It reminds me of a line from the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind:
Clementine: Too many guys think I'm a concept, or I complete them, or I'm gonna make them alive. But I'm just a fucked-up girl who's lookin' for my own peace of mind; don't assign me yours.
I think this is a good interpretation. I see this song as being about the "original" manic pixie dream girl that history has made Joan of Arc out to be.
yeah i think it is about him putting her on a pedestal...and her thinking hes over reacting...