"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.
Rings 'round his eyes
Tracks down his arm
His fans are confused and his friends are alarmed
His wife doesn't talk
Hates when he's gone
Counts every skirt in his new entourage
And they're all gossamer thin
Left of the dial, bohemians
And they dance, turnin' in style
Twirl 'round the room, curtsy and smile
And they sit at his feet, read poetry
Swoon with each word he speaks
She likes the new pope
She's not scared of hell
They meet once a week at a secret motel
She kisses his neck, she plays with his hair
Her screams sound like pleasure, her moans like despair
And they're spread gossamer thin
Pushed to the edge, frayed at the ends
And it's no business of mine
They can love more than one at a time
But they're pushing their luck
Hard but they must
Risk it all for love
Now I walk around in some kind of altered state
The drink in my hand is starting to shake
I get used to it if it has to stay this way
A new bunch of flowers I'll have to arrange
I don't want to eat
Or get out of bed
Try to recall what the therapist said
Ego and Id
The Essential Self
You are who you are and you are someone else
But I'm worn gossamer thin
Like delicate arch, carved by the wind
There's a glass psyche at stake
Throw me a brick, see if it breaks
'Cause the mind and the brain aren't quite the same
But they both want out of this place
Tracks down his arm
His fans are confused and his friends are alarmed
His wife doesn't talk
Hates when he's gone
Counts every skirt in his new entourage
And they're all gossamer thin
Left of the dial, bohemians
And they dance, turnin' in style
Twirl 'round the room, curtsy and smile
And they sit at his feet, read poetry
Swoon with each word he speaks
She likes the new pope
She's not scared of hell
They meet once a week at a secret motel
She kisses his neck, she plays with his hair
Her screams sound like pleasure, her moans like despair
And they're spread gossamer thin
Pushed to the edge, frayed at the ends
And it's no business of mine
They can love more than one at a time
But they're pushing their luck
Hard but they must
Risk it all for love
Now I walk around in some kind of altered state
The drink in my hand is starting to shake
I get used to it if it has to stay this way
A new bunch of flowers I'll have to arrange
I don't want to eat
Or get out of bed
Try to recall what the therapist said
Ego and Id
The Essential Self
You are who you are and you are someone else
But I'm worn gossamer thin
Like delicate arch, carved by the wind
There's a glass psyche at stake
Throw me a brick, see if it breaks
'Cause the mind and the brain aren't quite the same
But they both want out of this place
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Fast Car
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I guess this is a pretty straightforward song but let's take a look at it anyway. The phrase Gossamer Thin takes on three different meanings in the verses. The first describes a bohemian lifestyle of freedom and carelessness. The typical life of an artist surrounded by those who praise them. The verse brings to mind an image of obsession with a person with great talent. His entourage covers him with adoration (while his wife is in dismay over the group). They're gossamer thin, or shallow, in their love for him. Just simple groupies who may not truly understand the artist like his wife does. I wonder if this is about Conor's marriage. He's surrounded by people who can't fulfill him. The second verse describes a Love affair that Conor admits he can't really understand the way they do. He passes no judgement, but asserts that they are gossamer thin in their own way. In this example I think he intends to say that they are simply on (Gossamer) thin ice with their recklessness, and it is bound to crack beneath their feet. The final verse is very clear as well and all too relatable. His mental state is fragile and (gossamer) thin, ready to break at the slightest provocation. A collection of mental problems are piling up, and he tries to use his therapists wisdom to reassure and heal himself, but he sees that he is on the edge of disaster. Noting in the final line that hits thoughts and physical functions of his mind are plummeting through a shattered safety net.
That last verse is beautifully sad.
@Panoramik </3