"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.
One time, for my people one time
This is our time, this is our shine
Yeah, yeah, uh, uh
Verse 1:
Musical vigilante, I pray they understand me
I took my pain and then I turned that shit into a NAMMY
I do this for my momma, I'm rapping for my granny
I'll take a Native story, turn that shit into a GRAMMY
Musical alchemy, I see the world in panoramic
Young, educated Native make a White Man panic
Lakota lead a white? The Government would shot me
They treated our chiefs the same way that they treat Gaddafi
And no, I ain't a copy. Rapping is not a hobby
I am not the exception, I'd never been a probably (?)
I'm aiming for their heart, even if my bow is wobbly
We'll storm the White House, have a Nake concert in the lobby
I let my grades sway, before my culture die
I let my heart bleed, I consult the sky
I ask my grandfather "Why?" as I say my cry
They say "Lakota boy, time to defend or die!"
{Chorus:}
(Cody Blackbird singing Native, flutes)
Please take me home, while my people die
My heart beats on, oh father hear my cry
Frank:
One more time, I'm going in
Yeah, yeah
Verse 2:
I was born red, stained with the blood of genocide
Now all mascots the only way that I'm identified
Blackhawk, Red Skin, the image of our dead men
Dressed in the headdress, my people it's depressing
Addressing our ills, I want my Black Hills back
The Government wants me dead, but I never will crack
Feel that, you all feeling like it's our time?
All I gotta say, "FUCK THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE."
I'm praying for the knowledge to make it through college
With the world on my back, yo the challenge is ours
The path will be found for those who stray
And the answers will come to those who pray
It's like, damn, tell my why we rape our women?
Degrade our women? And forsake our living?
My mama raised me all by herself
I think of her struggle, and I find a reason for help
Reason to live when my people are my reason to die
I'm tryna fight cause our ails are my reason to cry
Reason for life? I ain't got a reason to lose
Because my motivation is the same reason they boost
Reasons why? Put 'em high
Put your bows up
All my real rappers for the people
Put your flows up
It's time to grow up
It's time to understand
(Unknown line)
I am your common man
{Chorus:}
This is our time, this is our shine
Yeah, yeah, uh, uh
Verse 1:
Musical vigilante, I pray they understand me
I took my pain and then I turned that shit into a NAMMY
I do this for my momma, I'm rapping for my granny
I'll take a Native story, turn that shit into a GRAMMY
Musical alchemy, I see the world in panoramic
Young, educated Native make a White Man panic
Lakota lead a white? The Government would shot me
They treated our chiefs the same way that they treat Gaddafi
And no, I ain't a copy. Rapping is not a hobby
I am not the exception, I'd never been a probably (?)
I'm aiming for their heart, even if my bow is wobbly
We'll storm the White House, have a Nake concert in the lobby
I let my grades sway, before my culture die
I let my heart bleed, I consult the sky
I ask my grandfather "Why?" as I say my cry
They say "Lakota boy, time to defend or die!"
{Chorus:}
(Cody Blackbird singing Native, flutes)
Please take me home, while my people die
My heart beats on, oh father hear my cry
Frank:
One more time, I'm going in
Yeah, yeah
Verse 2:
I was born red, stained with the blood of genocide
Now all mascots the only way that I'm identified
Blackhawk, Red Skin, the image of our dead men
Dressed in the headdress, my people it's depressing
Addressing our ills, I want my Black Hills back
The Government wants me dead, but I never will crack
Feel that, you all feeling like it's our time?
All I gotta say, "FUCK THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE."
I'm praying for the knowledge to make it through college
With the world on my back, yo the challenge is ours
The path will be found for those who stray
And the answers will come to those who pray
It's like, damn, tell my why we rape our women?
Degrade our women? And forsake our living?
My mama raised me all by herself
I think of her struggle, and I find a reason for help
Reason to live when my people are my reason to die
I'm tryna fight cause our ails are my reason to cry
Reason for life? I ain't got a reason to lose
Because my motivation is the same reason they boost
Reasons why? Put 'em high
Put your bows up
All my real rappers for the people
Put your flows up
It's time to grow up
It's time to understand
(Unknown line)
I am your common man
{Chorus:}
Lyrics submitted by sokorny
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