"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.
Will you walk us uptown
And wherever you go
You know we will follow
Will you walk us uptown
And we'll stand in the light
Of your new killing ground
And we won't make a sound
Except to sing our sorrow
Will you walk us uptown
While our tears run in torrents
To suffer in silence
Or pray for some solace
Will you wash away our sins
In the cross-fire
And cross-currents
As you uncross your fingers
And take out some insurance
No matter what the price
It's your own paradise
Will you walk us uptown
Will you walk us uptown
Some hearts are sinking &
Some hearts are a-flutter
Some scoop gold
From the dirt in the gutter
Or swallow the earth
Pouring into your mouth
As they bury us upright saying
"Everything's alright"
Will you walk us uptown
Like some said you could
We will feat on your flesh
And drink down your blood
Will you haul down that flag
And dishonor that vow
Cos we must not change
It's color now
Will you walk us uptown
No matter what the price
Each crushed in the corner
Of their own paradise
Will you walk us uptown
Will you walk us uptown
That's always assuming
That you're partly divine
And partly human
Your the king of our hearts
Your the clown with the drum
Will you walk us uptown
If we promise not to run
Will you walk us uptown
Will you gather us near
As cowards flee
And traitors sneer
Keep a red flag flying
Keep a blue flag as well
And a white flag in case
It all goes to hell
And wherever you go
You know we will follow
Will you walk us uptown
And we'll stand in the light
Of your new killing ground
And we won't make a sound
Except to sing our sorrow
Will you walk us uptown
While our tears run in torrents
To suffer in silence
Or pray for some solace
Will you wash away our sins
In the cross-fire
And cross-currents
As you uncross your fingers
And take out some insurance
No matter what the price
It's your own paradise
Will you walk us uptown
Will you walk us uptown
Some hearts are sinking &
Some hearts are a-flutter
Some scoop gold
From the dirt in the gutter
Or swallow the earth
Pouring into your mouth
As they bury us upright saying
"Everything's alright"
Will you walk us uptown
Like some said you could
We will feat on your flesh
And drink down your blood
Will you haul down that flag
And dishonor that vow
Cos we must not change
It's color now
Will you walk us uptown
No matter what the price
Each crushed in the corner
Of their own paradise
Will you walk us uptown
Will you walk us uptown
That's always assuming
That you're partly divine
And partly human
Your the king of our hearts
Your the clown with the drum
Will you walk us uptown
If we promise not to run
Will you walk us uptown
Will you gather us near
As cowards flee
And traitors sneer
Keep a red flag flying
Keep a blue flag as well
And a white flag in case
It all goes to hell
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Walk Us UPTOWN Lyrics as written by Elvis Costello Ahmir K. Thompson
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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